Missed the vote: Pro-gun MP grandstands to media while chamber decides

Wellington: New Zealand politicians have voted overwhelmingly in favour of new gun control measures during the first stage of a bill they hope to rush into law by the end of next week.

The bill would ban the types of weapons a gunman used to kill 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch last month.

Only one politician from the 120 that sit in Parliament voted against the legislation in a bipartisan display of unity. Tuesday's vote was the first of three that must pass before the bill becomes law.

Police Minister Stuart Nash said far too many people have access to dangerous firearms and that in New Zealand gun ownership remains a privilege, not a right.

Conservative David Seymour voted against the bill, saying it was too rushed.

In an embarrassing mistake, the other politician opposing changes missed the vote because he was grandstanding to reporters outside the debating chamber.

The libertarian ACT party's leader and only MP, David Seymour, had thrown a spanner in the works by pledging opposition.

However, as the house gathered and held the vote in the afternoon, Seymour was not in his seat. Instead, he was outside explaining to reporters why he would be voting against the proposal.

Afterwards, an embarrassed Seymour laughed the matter off, saying the bill would have been pushed through regardless and accusing the government of bringing the motion forward due to his tardiness.

"I'm not going to be so responsive to journalists questions in future," he joked.