NZ First promises overhaul of combat sports regulation

New Zealand First says it would overhaul the regulation of combat sports to improve safety and stop criminal influence.

The party announced the plan on October 15, 2026. It published an announcement titled 'NZ First Announces Overhaul to Regulate Combat Sports' on its website NZ First.

If elected, the party would establish a Combat Sports Commission to oversee event licensing and contestant registration across the country RNZ. The commission would be a statutory body Scoop.

The proposal would introduce minimum health and medical standards. That would include medical examinations before and after fights.

It would also require a mandatory stand-down period between contests. Illegal and unsanctioned events would face penalties.

New Zealand First said the current combat sports legislation was decades out of date. It said the lack of modern regulation created severe risks for athletes and undermined legitimate clubs.

As reasons for reform, the party cited coronial recommendations after the death of Kain Parsons. Parsons died in 2018 after receiving 30 blows to the head in a charity boxing match.

It also pointed to concerns over gang-affiliated bare-knuckle fights and unsanctioned prize-money events.