{"id":119492,"date":"2025-11-05T15:49:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T15:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/119492\/"},"modified":"2025-11-05T15:49:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T15:49:19","slug":"nz-first-puts-forward-bill-to-ban-sale-of-fireworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/119492\/","title":{"rendered":"NZ First puts forward bill to ban sale of fireworks"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Zealand First is putting forward a member\u2019s bill that proposes a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks, saying the impact on pets, “inevitable” fires, and “havoc” for emergency services were no longer worth it. <\/p>\n

As some prepare to set off fireworks to celebrate Guy Fawkes<\/a> tonight, the yearly debate around their banning has once again been sparked. <\/p>\n

NZ First Leader Winston Peters said fireworks cause fires, create havoc for emergency services, and impacts pets, farm animals, and native wildlife. <\/p>\n

On Guy Fawkes in 2024, firefighters responded to 32 firework-related callouts<\/a>. Meanwhile, multiple petitions calling for their ban were before parliament. Several major retailers have stopped selling fireworks in recent years. <\/p>\n

The proposed Fireworks Prohibition Legislation Bill, in the name of Jenny Marcroft, would need to be pulled from the ballot before going before Parliament. It will replace the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill<\/a> in the ballot. <\/p>\n

The bill would stop the retail sale, manufacture, and importation of fireworks for public use. Organised public displays would still be allowed, however. <\/p>\n

\"Fireworks<\/p>\n

Fireworks displays in the US leaves one woman dead, and nine injured. (Source: istock.com)<\/p>\n

On Breakfast this morning, Peters was asked why it was the right time to ban fireworks. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019ve seen a horse totally wrapped up in barbed wire and cut to the bone, and the horse is going to have to be put down \u2013 I\u2019ve seen animals like that,” he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen calves like that, and I\u2019ve seen many dogs and cats absolutely out of their mind because they can\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on around them. <\/p>\n

\u201cPets have got a right to be looked after properly and not have the fear of god put in them.\u201d <\/p>\n

Peter\u2019s also said fireworks were a nuisance, with people setting them off late into the evening, and long past Guy Fawkes itself. <\/p>\n

\"Peters<\/p>\n

Peters says fireworks “put the fear of god” into animals. (Source: istock.com)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe number of people, at all hours of day and night, not near Guy Fawkes, they\u2019re doing it all of the time, just letting off rockets.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a case of enough\u2019s enough.\u201d <\/p>\n

Responding to concerns of overreach by the Government, Peters said there wasn\u2019t a \u201cfreedom issue around it\u201d because public displays put on by \u201cresponsible people\u201d would continue under the proposed law. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were behaving responsibly on this matter, nobody would be complaining. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut you and your friends are far too often behaving utterly irresponsibly.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"New<\/p>\n

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters (file image). (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n

When it came to ACC and emergency service costs, Peters said the issue was \u201cmuch bigger than we think\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis sort of random behaviour has got consequences.\u201d <\/p>\n

Peters referred to a poll underway and said it suggested New Zealanders had \u201cmassively had enough\u201d of fireworks. A 2023 survey by AA Insurance<\/a> found that 53% of respondents wanted fireworks banned for recreational use, with a further 20% wanting them banned altogether.<\/p>\n

The announcement of the member\u2019s bill came after a Canterbury family\u2019s dog died after being hit by a car while spooked by fireworks. <\/p>\n

Owner Wendy Wellwood said her neighbour found Izzy, the Australian Shepherd, on the side of the road. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe vet gave us options, and of course, there weren\u2019t many, so we had to have her euthanised. <\/p>\n

She wanted to see fireworks banned from \u201cevery household\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s costing too many fur babies’ lives, plus lots of others like horses and all sorts of animals.\u201d <\/p>\n

Three petitions, including one backed by 90,000 signatures, have been presented to Parliament. <\/p>\n

How to keep your animals safe tonight<\/p>\n

SPCA scientific officer Dr Alison Vaughan offered pet owners tips on how to keep their animals safe on a night the organisation was “hugely concerned” about. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n

SPCA scientific officer Dr Alison Vaughan said she was \u201chugely concerned\u201d for animals tonight, and supported a ban on their sale to the public. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that somewhere around 75% of cat and dog owners report that their animal is afraid, we know that there are some exceptions, but this is the majority and that goes up to 80% when we talk about horse owners.\u201d <\/p>\n

She also said that 26% of horse owners report their animals being injured on Guy Fawkes night due to panic. <\/p>\n

Vaughan said concerns went beyond pets and farm animals, but also to native birds, which are currently nesting. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that fireworks disrupt and can even cause nest abandonment.\u201d <\/p>\n

She offered tips for pet owners on how to keep their animals safe tonight. She encouraged people to exercise their animals before it got dark and to create a \u201clittle den\u201d so they can \u201cretreat to feel safe\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cCats like those little igloo beds, but wherever they choose to feel safe, and then close the curtains, close the windows, play some music and stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n

For farm animals, Vaughan recommended moving them to an area where they know there won\u2019t be fireworks. <\/p>\n

She urged those who were setting off fireworks tonight to \u201cplease let your neighbours know\u201d so they can prepare and take steps to keep their pets safe, check to make sure it\u2019s safe to light fireworks in your area, and \u201ctry to keep it to one night\u201d.<\/p>\n

The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including the Police Commissioner\u2019s opinion on publishing leaked audio, two charged over a barbershop attack, and David Beckham and the King swap fashion tips. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New Zealand First is putting forward a member\u2019s bill that proposes a ban on the private sale and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119493,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[50,111,43,139,69,135,136],"class_list":{"0":"post-119492","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-animals","9":"tag-new-zealand","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-nz","13":"tag-politics","14":"tag-winston-peters"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}