# NZ First pushes fireworks ban as election campaign heats up

> NZ First demands fireworks ban amid election campaign clashes.
- Title: NZ First pushes fireworks ban as election campaign heats up
- Summary: NZ First demands fireworks ban amid election campaign clashes. NZ First wants a nationwide fireworks ban by the next government, claiming it causes animal…
- Keywords: breaking, nz first, fireworks ban, election campaign, labour party, national party, winston peters, chris hipkins, christopher luxon, opportunity party, agriculture policy, politics
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1798632/live-nz-first-campaigns-on-banning-fireworks
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-09T05:24:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, nz first, fireworks ban, election campaign, labour party, national party, winston peters, chris hipkins, christopher luxon, opportunity party, agriculture policy, politics
## NZ First pushes fireworks ban
NZ First wants to ban public sale and private use of fireworks, blaming them for animal injuries and fires.

> A lot of people making comments have never seen the damage to animals like to dogs and cats and particularly horses...cut to the bone and having to be put down because of the injuries they've sustained being panicked by fireworks.
## Winston Peters calls it a freedom issue
Peters said National, Labour and ACT were against the ban because they considered it a 'freedom issue'.

> Yes it's a freedom issue - until you do enormous damage to someone else's property or pets, and that's what's happening around the country.
## Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong
Wong said she doesn't believe National will work with them and that polls show Opportunity is well clear of 5 percent threshold.

> I don't believe him
## National offers $300m water loans
National promises up to $300 million in low-cost loans for farmers to store water during dry seasons.

> The party said it wanted to make it easier for farmers to collect rainwater when there was plenty of it, then use it to grow crops and feed livestock when conditions turned dry.
## ACT wants agriculture in Year 11
ACT calls for agriculture to remain a standalone subject in Year 11 science curriculum.

> We've got all these other subjects at Year 11. Why not agriculture and horticulture?
## Hipkins criticizes Peters
Hipkins said Peters should not be in Parliament and that Opportunity voters would be giving their vote away.

> Winston Peters shouldn't even be in Parliament
## Key takeaway

NZ First wants a nationwide fireworks ban by the next government, claiming it causes animal injuries and fires, while Labour and National oppose it as a 'freedom issue'.