Gun Control & RKBA

ezra: New Zealand, didn't ban guns and has a somewhat lower homicide rate than Australia, no? (0.9/100K vs. 1.1/100K,..

Evidently 'no', but not that you're correct, albeit 2014/15 stats might support you. In the event tho, you'd be cherry picking; accd'g to 'gunpolicydotcom':
Overall homicide rates:
NZ: 2012: 1.57 .. 2010: 1.30 .. 2005: 1.70 2000: 1.50 1996: 1.80
OZ: 2012: 1.24 .. 2010: 1.20 .. 2005: 0.98 2000: 1.78 1996: 1.97

Perhaps ezra meant 'firearm homicide rates' which are a little better for him, but still fluctuate:

NZ: 2013: 0.18 - 2012: 0.07 - 2010: 0.20 -2005: 0.20 - 2000: 0.20 - 1996: 0.20
OZ: 2013: N/A -- 2012: 0.18 - 2010: 0.18 - 2005: 0.09 - 2000: 0.30 - 1996: 0.57

Overall gundeath rates, incl'g suicide, accident & homicide (presumably):
NZ: 2010: 1.20 2009: 1.60 2005: 1.30 2000: 1.30 1996: 1.80 1995: 2.20
OZ: 2010: 1.08 2009: 1.06 2005: 1.09 2000: 1.70 1996: 2.84 1995: 2.61
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/australia

same link, gunpolicy: The regulation of guns in New Zealand is categorised as restrictive
In New Zealand, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law
In New Zealand, civilians are not allowed to possess handguns, military-style semi-automatic weapons or fully automatic firearms without a permit to purchase and a relevant firearm licence endorsement
Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in New Zealand are not legally required to establish a genuine reason to possess a standard hunting or sports shooting firearm, but specific reasoning is required for special licence endorsements for pistols, restricted firearms, and Military Style Semi-Automatic weapons, including sports shooting, hunting, and collection. Owning a firearm for self-defence is specifically excluded, and prohibited
An applicant for a firearm licence in New Zealand must pass a background check which considers criminal, mental, medical, addiction and domestic violence

In New Zealand, private possession of semi-automatic assault weapons is restricted to police-approved licensed gun owners with a Military-Style Semi Automatic (MSSA) licence endorsement.Each MSSA must be registered to its owner and securely stored when not in use
Regulation of Handguns In New Zealand, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is restricted to police-approved licensed gun owners with a ‘pistol’ licence endorsement. Each handgun must be registered to its owner and securely stored

Back to Australia/OZ: September 2008 Over the past 10-15 years, although the overall use of firearms in violent crime has declined, handguns have increasingly become the firearm of choice in both Australia and other English-speaking countries. Handguns are often used as a means of protection, particularly among people involved in gangs and the drugs market, and their concealable nature, high firepower and large calibre are often cited as features prompting their acquisition by the criminal community.
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/361-380/tandi361.html

Note: while some violent crime might've increased, the decline in firearm related violent crime makes it, well, less violent.

In the last six years, the rate of robbery victimisation has steadily declined from 86 per 100,000 in 2007 to 58 per 100,000 in 2012. Generally, the rate of robbery victimisation has been declining since 2001. http://www.aic.gov.au/statistics/violent%20crime.html