NZ First will campaign on banning the public sale and use of fireworks, with legislation already written and ready to be tabled in parliament within the first hundred days of the next government.
The party said the bill, which was introduced as a members bill last year and received what it described as tremendous public support, would stop the retail sale, manufacture, and importation of fireworks for public use. Approved public displays would still be allowed to go ahead.
Guy Fawkes is less than four weeks away.
"The taxpayer should not be spending millions on something that drastically impacts pets, causes the inevitable fires, and causes havoc for our emergency services," the party said. "Enough is enough."
NZ First said the abuse and misuse of fireworks had far outgrown any of the benefits, and described the policy as a response to what it called hugely predictable and preventable costs for ACC, the costs of emergency service call-outs, and the effects reckless use of fireworks has on farm animals and family pets.
The party said it was not about being a "nanny state". "This is about bringing some common-sense into what is a desperately needed conversation about the future of fireworks in our community."
NZ First also pointed to the fact that many major retailers had already stopped selling fireworks, and said there had been calls from across the country to put a stop to the sale of fireworks completely.