New Zealand is going assault weapon free.

Authorities in the country say more than 50,000 firearms have been handed over to the police after a nationwide gun buyback program. The initiative began after a massacre at two mosques in Christchurch which left 51 dead in March.

An additional 2,700 guns were modified to make compliant with new regulations and 5,000 firearms of all types were also collected as part of a no-questions-asked amnesty.

All told, the government has spent roughly $66 million on the effort.

With Post wires