Matua Parkinson (file photo).
Photo: Photosport/Marty Melville

A former All Blacks Sevens captain and health board official has been convicted of illegal arms sales.

Former All Black Matua Parkinson, 49, was also a former firearms owner but continued to illegally sell rifles, police said.

The Tauranga resident appeared in Whakatāne District Court on Wednesday for sentencing after pleading guilty to firearms charges in June, police said in a statement.

Parkinson traveled to two Gun City stores in Auckland in June 2022, where he paid $11,000 to buy five Alfa Carbine rifles – then supplied the rifles to someone who did not have a firearms licence, police said in a statement .

“Parkinson held senior positions of responsibility in the community, including being an elected health board official and captaining the All Blacks Sevens,” said Detective Inspector Albie Alexander, but the illegal sale of the rifles put the public and the police at risk.

The police would do everything possible to bring all firearms offenders to account.

“The National Organized Crime Task Force is aware of multiple examples of sawed-off Alfa Carbine rifles being used to commit crimes, including murder,” Alexander said.

“Over 70 percent of the firearms seized from criminals are standard rifles and shotguns, easily obtained by a so-called ‘Category A’ license holder.

More to come…