Animal welfare groups are "heartbroken" after the Government rejected a select committee call to ban the public sale and private use of fireworks.
In a response to the petitions committee, the Government said a ban would remove access to "a long-standing and widely used lawful activity".
It acknowledged the "harms associated with fireworks use, including impacts on people, animals, and property. It also notes that these harms often occur in private and unpredictable settings, which makes them difficult to prevent through regulation alone.
"While a ban would more directly address these risks, it would also remove access to a long‑standing and widely used lawful activity."
The Government said the status quo remained "a proportionate response, balancing the need to manage harm with the importance of maintaining individual choice".
"The current framework continues to provide controls at the point of sale and mechanisms to address misuse, while allowing the Government to monitor whether further change is warranted," its justification read.
It was the first time a parliamentary select committee had recommended government action on the issue, following consideration of three petitions brought by Animates NZ Holdings, Suzanne Cook and Raewyn Harrison earlier this year.
More than 93,000 people signed accompanying online petitions.
The petitions committee's report, published in April, had heard from Fire and Emergency, the SPCA, and the Veterinary Association, all of whom strongly supported a ban.
The cross-party committee, which considers petitions from the public, said it found it "difficult to do anything other than recommend a ban" given the evidence it heard.
In response to the decision, SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale said the organisation was "heartbroken and outraged".
"This is a profoundly disappointing decision that leaves animals to continue suffering for no good reason. The evidence of harm is clear, the public wants change, and Parliament itself clearly recommended action," she said.
"Professionally organised and notified public displays allow people to enjoy fireworks without the widespread and unpredictable harm caused by private use."
The charity added that it receives reports yearly of animals experiencing severe fear and distress as fireworks are let off across neighbourhoods.
"Animals can panic, flee from their homes, injure themselves trying to escape, stop eating, or suffer prolonged anxiety that lasts well beyond the fireworks themselves."
During its inquiry, the committee noted that 14 petitions across seven parliaments had now called for changes to fireworks rules.
Winston Peters says taxpayers shouldn’t be spending millions on something that causes fires, creates havoc for emergency services, and puts "the fear of god" into animals. (Source: 1News)
It said New Zealand's fireworks regulations had not been formally reviewed since 2006.
The committee also heard from fireworks importers, some of whom argued Guy Fawkes Day was a "long-held Kiwi tradition" and that public displays couldn't be relied upon.
NZ First leader Winston Peters introduced a member's bill in November to ban public fireworks sales, calling it "common sense" and saying the "abuse and misuse of fireworks has far outgrown any of the benefits".
Under current rules, fireworks can be sold to the public between November 2 and 5 each year, but there is no restriction on when they can be used.
The regulations were last changed in 2007, when the sale period was reduced from 10 days to four, and the minimum purchase age was raised from 14 to 18.
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