Auckland (The NZ Today)
New Zealand First has unveiled plans for a major overhaul of combat sports regulation, promising to create a statutory Combat Sports Commission if returned to government.
The party says the new body would oversee event licensing, contestant registration and safety standards across boxing and other combat sports, while also targeting illegal and unsanctioned fight events.
The policy follows concerns around athlete safety and the influence of criminal groups in some unregulated events.
NZ First has pointed to coronial recommendations made after the death of fighter Kain Parsons, as well as concern over gang-linked bare-knuckle fights and prize-money events operating outside recognised sporting structures.
Under the proposal, promoters would need to meet national licensing requirements, while fighters would be subject to minimum medical standards before and after contests.
Those standards would include pre- and post-fight medical checks, blood testing requirements, medical practitioners at events and mandatory stand-down periods between fights where required on health grounds.
The proposed commission would also have the power to focus on event and promoter licensing and impose penalties where fights are staged outside the approved system.
NZ First says the aim is to draw a much clearer line between legitimate combat sports and events operating without proper safety controls.
The party also wants formal recognition and coordination with Sport New Zealand so established clubs, athletes and promoters can operate under a more consistent national framework.
NZ First says the current system is outdated and leaves too much room for unsafe events to take place without proper oversight.
The policy would effectively create a single national regulator for combat sports rather than leaving safety and event standards spread across different organisations.
The party argues that stronger regulation would improve athlete protection, give legitimate promoters more certainty and make it harder for unsanctioned or criminally influenced events to operate.
Source: New Zealand First policy announcement.
