Guy Fawkes Night in New Zealand is on Thursday 5 November 2026. Retail fireworks can be sold only from Monday 2 November to the close of Thursday 5 November, and only to people aged 18 or over. The backyard fireworks tradition survives for another year because the Government rejected a recommended ban in July.
That decision means the usual Kiwi Guy Fawkes week goes ahead, but the big public shows are now rare. None of the main city councils runs a 5 November display any more, so most organised fireworks in 2026 come from speedways and community groups. Below is what is confirmed so far, what has changed, and the rules for letting off your own.
When is Guy Fawkes 2026 in NZ?
Guy Fawkes Night is always 5 November. In 2026 that is a Thursday. It is not a public holiday in New Zealand, so it is a normal working and school day.
| Guy Fawkes 2026 | Date |
|---|---|
| Fireworks go on sale | Monday 2 November 2026 |
| Last day of sales | Thursday 5 November 2026 (close of day) |
| Guy Fawkes Night | Thursday 5 November 2026 |
| Nearest weekends | Saturday 31 October and Saturday 7 November |
Because 5 November falls midweek, many organised displays sit on the Saturdays either side of it.
Guy Fawkes displays and where to watch in 2026
This list covers public displays that organisers have confirmed for 2026, as of 11 October 2026. More events are usually announced in the last two weeks of October.
| City | Display | Date and time | Status (as of 11 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Fireworks Spectacular at Waikaraka Speedway, Onehunga | Saturday 31 October, racing from 7pm (rain date Saturday 7 November) | Confirmed on the speedway’s 2026–27 race schedule |
| Tauranga | Bay Fireworks and Bill Buckley Classic at Mercury Baypark Speedway | Saturday 7 November, time to be confirmed | Confirmed on the speedway’s 2026–27 race schedule |
| Whangārei | Whangārei Fireworks Spectacular at Semenoff Stadium | Held on the first Saturday of November in 2024 and 2025 | 2026 date not announced |
| Wellington | No Guy Fawkes display | — | Council display cancelled in 2017 |
| Christchurch | No November display | The council’s fireworks were held on 27 June 2026 at New Brighton Pier | Moved to winter |
Guy Fawkes in Auckland
Auckland Council does not put on a Guy Fawkes fireworks display, and it has not for years. The speedway show at Waikaraka Park in Onehunga is the main organised option on the Saturday before Guy Fawkes. The speedway has also listed a “Grand Opening + Fireworks” meeting on 14 November and a New Year fireworks night on 1 January.
Guy Fawkes in Wellington
Wellington City Council cancelled its annual Guy Fawkes display in 2017 and moved its fireworks to Matariki. Since 2023 the council’s Matariki celebration has replaced fireworks with performances and projections on the waterfront, so there is no big council fireworks show in the capital.
Guy Fawkes in Christchurch and New Brighton
For decades Christchurch held its display at New Brighton on or near 5 November. In 2020 the council moved it to winter, and its 2026 Winter Fireworks Spectacular took place at New Brighton Pier on Saturday 27 June. There is no council display on Guy Fawkes this year.
Fireworks rules in NZ for 2026
Retail fireworks are controlled by the Hazardous Substances (Fireworks) Regulations 2001. The Environmental Protection Authority says you can buy fireworks between 2 and 5 November and only if you are 18 or over. Shops will ask for ID.
- Skyrockets and firecrackers have been banned in New Zealand since 1994, so you will not find them in shops.
- The law limits when fireworks are sold, not when they are used. Councils, landowners and fire bans decide where you can let them off.
- Fire and Emergency NZ can declare fire bans that stop fireworks in some areas, and some places have permanent bans, including the Queenstown Red Zone and Mt Iron in Wānaka. Check your area at checkitsalright.nz before you light anything.
- Police enforce the sale rules, and councils deal with noise complaints.
Where you can let off fireworks in Auckland
Auckland Council’s rules allow fireworks on private property only. It is illegal to light them on council land such as parks and beaches, on the Tūpuna Maunga, in forests and conservation areas, and on roads, berms and footpaths. Bonfires are allowed on private rural land during Guy Fawkes, in daylight hours only.
Is there a fireworks ban in NZ?
No. A ban on the public sale and private use of fireworks came close in 2026 but was turned down. This is how the debate has moved.
- **June 2025:** the “Pawprint Petition” reached Parliament with about 90,000 signatures and tens of thousands of paw prints.
- **5 November 2025:** NZ First lodged a member’s bill to ban the sale, manufacture and import of fireworks for private use.
- **April 2026:** Parliament’s Petitions Committee said it found it difficult to do anything other than recommend a ban.
- **29 July 2026:** the Government rejected that recommendation, 1News reported. It said the status quo was “a proportionate response, balancing the need to manage harm with the importance of maintaining individual choice.”
The reaction split along familiar lines. SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale called it “a profoundly disappointing decision that leaves animals to continue suffering for no good reason.” ACT leader David Seymour said: “let’s just keep something of the Kiwi childhood, please.” NZ First leader Winston Peters said the issue would be revisited after the election.
Keeping pets and horses safe on Guy Fawkes
The SPCA’s advice is simple: never let fireworks off close to animals, keep pets indoors where the flashes are hidden and the bangs are muffled, and stay home with them if you can. Horses and farm animals should stay in paddocks they know. If you plan to use fireworks, telling neighbours with animals gives them a chance to prepare.
What is Guy Fawkes Night?
Guy Fawkes Night marks the failed Gunpowder Plot of 5 November 1605, when a group of English Catholic conspirators planned to blow up the House of Lords and kill the Protestant King James I. Guy Fawkes was caught guarding the gunpowder. An Act of Parliament in early 1606 set aside 5 November as a day of thanksgiving, and the bonfires and fireworks grew from there. British settlers brought the custom to New Zealand, one of the few countries where it is still marked.
How Guy Fawkes in NZ has changed over the years
| Year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Skyrockets and firecrackers banned from retail sale |
| 2006 | Sale period cut to four days (2 to 5 November) and minimum buying age raised to 18 |
| 2014 | Auckland bans fireworks in forests, conservation areas and on roads |
| 2017 | Wellington drops its Guy Fawkes display and moves fireworks to Matariki |
| 2020 | Christchurch moves its public display to winter |
| 2025 | Pawprint Petition reaches Parliament and NZ First lodges a ban bill |
| 2026 | Government rejects a ban, and sales run from 2 to 5 November as usual |
Frequently asked questions
Is Guy Fawkes a public holiday in NZ?
No. Guy Fawkes Night is not a public holiday in New Zealand. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday, an ordinary work and school day.
What time does Guy Fawkes start?
There is no official start time. Fireworks look best after dark, which in early November means after about 8.30pm in most of the country. Organised displays run to their own published times. Hamilton City Council has asked residents to finish by 10.30pm.
When can you buy fireworks in NZ in 2026?
From Monday 2 November until the close of Thursday 5 November 2026, and only if you are 18 or older.
Can you let off fireworks after 5 November?
The law restricts when fireworks are sold, not when they are used, so leftover fireworks can be set off later. Council bylaws, fire bans and noise rules still apply, and in Auckland they may only be used on private property.
Why do we celebrate Guy Fawkes in New Zealand?
The tradition came with British settlers, who marked the anniversary of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot with bonfires and fireworks. Today it is mostly a backyard fireworks night rather than a historical commemoration.
Does The Warehouse sell fireworks?
No. The Warehouse stopped selling fireworks in 2021. They are sold through other retailers and pop-up shops during the four-day sale period.
