The minimum age for buying fireworks in New Zealand for Guy Fawkes Night is 18.
New Zealand permits retail fireworks sales only during the four-day period from 2 to 5 November, and retailers may sell them only to people aged 18 or over. Buyers may be required to show identification, much as they do for other age-restricted products.
The age limit was raised as part of a wider tightening of fireworks controls. Before the change, people aged 14 and over could buy fireworks. The increase to 18 took effect in the mid-2000s, alongside the reduction of the sales period from 10 days to four.
A related misconception is that the purchase age controls when fireworks may be used. The rules primarily govern retail sales; in many places, fireworks can still be set off outside Guy Fawkes Night, subject to local restrictions and safety rules. Sparklers also cannot generally be sold alone: they must be packaged with other fireworks.