Fireworks have sparked 13 wildfires since sales began this week
About a quarter of New Zealand horse owners say a horse has been injured by fireworks.
|November 6, 2026Listen to the full interview:
Fireworks have caused 13 wildfires since they went on sale this week.
SPCA senior scientific officer Dr Alison Vaughan says fewer fireworks are being imported this year, but they remain a persistent problem.
“It’s not just a matter of those animals being scared, but also it can induce things like abortions, so it is quite serious,” she says.
She says about a quarter of horse owners surveyed have had a horse injured by fireworks, and nesting native birds can abandon nests.
The SPCA and other animal groups have an open letter to the incoming government calling for an end to private sales, with about 10,000 signatures.
“Our issue is with retail fireworks and whether individual enjoyment should be prioritised over safety and wellbeing of animals, the wider community, the environment.”
To learn more, visit spca.nz
Watch the full interview:
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