New Zealand First will campaign on banning the public sale and use of fireworks, promising to table legislation within the first 100 days of the next government.

The proposed law would prohibit the retail sale, manufacture and importation of fireworks for public use, while allowing approved public displays to continue.

In a statement released less than four weeks before Guy Fawkes, the party said the legislation was already written and ready to go.

NZ First announced a similar member’s bill in November last year, called the Fireworks Prohibition Legislation Bill.

The party said its proposal was aimed at reducing harm to family pets and farm animals, fires, and pressure on emergency services.

“The taxpayer should not be spending millions on something that drastically impacts pets, causes the inevitable fires, and causes havoc for our emergency services. Enough is enough,” the statement said.

NZ First also cited ACC costs associated with fireworks injuries, although the release did not provide figures for those costs or emergency service callouts.

“The abuse and misuse of fireworks has far outgrown any of the benefits.”

The party said many major retailers had already stopped selling fireworks and there had been calls across the country for a complete ban on public sales.

“This is not about being ‘nanny state’, this is about bringing some common-sense into what is a desperately needed conversation about the future of fireworks in our community.”

The commitment concerns legislation to be put before Parliament after the election, rather than a ban taking effect before this year’s Guy Fawkes.