Every year, thousands of animals are traumatised and many injured due to fear of fireworks.

Fear of fireworks is common in companion animals. These fears can lead to panic, destructive behaviour, and long-term phobias. Animals frequently injure themselves attempting to flee fireworks and, each year, stories emerge of much-loved companion animals dying due to fireworks. These are a predictable but tragic occurrence.

While fireworks are only on sale between 2 and 5 November, stock piling is a known issue. The inability to predict when or where fireworks will be let off prevents those responsible for animals from taking steps to protect them.

While much attention of the impacts of fireworks on animals focuses on companion animals, the effects on wildlife are likely more widespread and severe. The timing of Guy Fawkes and New Year fireworks displays coincides with nesting for many New Zealand native bird species and fireworks may have adverse long-term population effects.

SPCA has been advocating for a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks in New Zealand for years. SPCA also advocates that fireworks, pyrotechnics and gas-fired explosions should never be permitted to be used at events involving animals due to the distress they cause animals.

We acknowledge that many New Zealanders include firework displays when celebrating special occasions such as Matariki, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Guy Fawkes. We are supportive of controlled and notified public firework displays, which allow communities to celebrate while minimising harms.

2025

• SPCA meets with Minister for Environment, Hon Penny Simmonds, to call for a ban on private sale and use of fireworks.
• SPCA submits in support of the petitions of Animates, Raewyn Harrison, and Suzanne Cook calling for a ban on the private sale of fireworks.

2024

• SPCA collaborates with RNZ Concert to host New Zealand's first ever Concert for Animals, an evening of soothing music to help pets and their people get through Guy Fawkes.

2022

• SPCA publishes storybook, Fireworks Free, that tells the tale of a community that replace harmful fireworks with a celebration everyone can enjoy. SPCA Ambassador, Suzy Cato, reads it here.

2021

• Warehouse stops selling fireworks.

2020

• Parliamentary Select Committee rejects proposed restrictions on fireworks.

2019

• SPCA presents to the Parliamentary select Committee in support of petitions calling for a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks.
• Countdown stops selling fireworks.