Firework Professionals

The story so far

Firework Professionals Ltd is a 2nd generation, family owned and operated New Zealand business. We’ve been designing dazzling pyrotechnic displays and supplying quality commercial fireworks for over forty years now.

Founded by Anthony Lealand in the 1970’s, Firework Professionals is run by a small group of highly skilled and experienced pyro enthusiasts based in Christchurch. Dozens of trained pyrotechnicians in all the major centres, cities and towns throughout New Zealand support the full-time team.

Firework Professionals produce professional fireworks displays and pyromusicals, and supply and manufacture an extensive range of indoor and outdoor pyrotechnics and special effects for the film and TV industry. We also provide local technical support for international productions and concerts nationwide.

As well, we run comprehensive pyrotechnician training courses for groups ranging from those keen to learn more about fireworks, people wanting to enter the industry, as well as for trained techs needing certification, upgrades and refresher courses to keep up with the latest techniques and regulatory requirements. Firework Professionals are proud to still be at the forefront of the NZ pyrotechnic industry.

We’re passionate about our work, and our expertise and reputation for excellence has lead to invitations to attend international conferences, train overseas students, and to compete in international competitions. Our most recent trip was to the 2018 Hannover International Fireworks Competition, where we won 2nd prize.

Firework Professionals aren’t part-time hobbyists, we’re a full-time team, providing fireworks displays 365 days a year. While the fortnight around November 5th is our busiest time, there other peak times such as New Year’s Eve and Matariki when the pyro calendar is pretty full. Booking shows outside these peak times is advantageous to clients, so check in with us for off season specials and projects. Professional fireworks are a lot more affordable than you might have imagined.

No matter what the celebration, a firework display, custom designed special effects or confetti and streamer effects will add something special to your event. Have a look around our site and gallery and have a chat with us to discuss your events ideas and budget.

Recent News and Events

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

It's been a busy few months for us here at Firework Professionals. The weekend around November 5th is always a popular time for community firework displays, and FPL supplied and fired dozens of beautiful fireworks displays all around the country. With some unseasonally bad weather hitting the whole country, it was a trying weekend for our crews battling the elements, but we pulled through and...

Hannover International Fireworks Competition

Firework Professionals had the honour of competing at the 28th Hannover International Fireworks Competition in Germany recently. A lot of work goes into creating a pyromusical and there were many challenges putting together the 22 minute show – the biggest coming from working remotely with unfamiliar pyrotechnics, a slightly unfamiliar firing system, and a 10 hour time difference hindering...

Street parade streamers in the deep South

To celebrate a proud region's amazing sporting successes over the winter, the Invercargill City Council recently organised a street parade. And what's a parade without ticker tape - or streamers as we know them. At short notice, Firework Professionals had hundreds of streamer tubes delivered to the community to hand out for their celebrations. The great thing about streamers is that there are...

Fireworks for Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby Win

What a season it's been for our home side the Canterbury Crusaders. Firework Professionals has been on hand at all the home games providing red coloured smokes for the team's entrance to the field. For finals night we were part of the half-time entertainment, with our Le Maitre and Ultratech proximate pyrotechnics lighting up the infield. And when the cup was presented to the winning team,...

Fireworks from Lyttelton to Hannover

Always a highlight of our winter calendar, the crew fired the fireworks display at "The Lyttleton Harbour Festival of Lights" street party on June 29th, with more than ten thousand revellers enjoying an evening of light, creativity and fireworks. Though this year's show was tinged with great sadness for us, following the recent passing of our founder Anthony Lealand, in a fitting finale a dozen...

Anthony Lealand

It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of our dear friend and mentor, Anthony Lealand. Anthony passed away on Friday the 15th of June 2018, from complications following surgery. He will be deeply missed by us all.

“Professional Firework Safety Essentials” course is now available

Our latest course – “Professional Firework Safety Essentials” is now available online at Udemy. And it’s free! Read more …

Sparks 2018

Firework Professionals Ltd create another beautiful firework display at the 35th annual “Sparks” with the CSO in Hagley Park, Christchurch. A brief history of this pyromusical event.

Fireworks as Jacinda Adern opens the Rutherford Building

Fireworks as Jacinda Ardern opens the Rutherford Building

Firework Professional Ltd provided the sparkle when the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opened the University of Canterbury’s Earnest Rutherford Building on 15 February. (With a short video of the event) …

New Year’s Eve and into 2018

Happy New Year! New Year's Eve is always one of the busiest nights of the pyro calendar and this year was no exception, with technicians working all over the country. Firework Professionals fired shows as far north as Whangarei and as far south as Cardrona to the enjoyment of thousands of revelers. Fireworks really are a spectacular way to ring in the New Year. (Photo courtesy of Rhythm & Alps)...

New Brighton Pier Fireworks 2017

"Star Wars" Fireworks - New Brighton Pier, Christchurch. For the 40th anniversary of this genre defining classic we designed this year's pyromusical firework show for the Treetech Guy Fawkes Fireworks Spectacular with a "Star Wars" theme. With repair work to the pier underway, set up space was limited by scaffolding and other obstacles. But at Firework Professionals Ltd, we work through...

Guy Fawkes Retail Fireworks

Guy Fawkes is Coming! The time is coming in New Zealand when retail fireworks can be sold. We do not sell domestic fireworks however we are involved in training those who do. Yes, that is right not only are there special regulations covering the fireworks that can be sold (they are not the same as the pyro you get in a professional fireworks show) but each place has to have at least one person...

Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights 2017

The Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights for 2017 had a great turnout, despite the weather doing its best to deter party goers. Firework Professionals have been firing the fireworks show down at Port Lyttelton for over a decade now. It's one of our favourite winter events and one that many of our trainees have worked on to get experience of working in tricky conditions. In previous years we've...

Blessing of the fleet 2017 starshells Nelson

Nelson Blessing of the Fleet 2017 – Mid winter fireworks

Nelson fireworks for Annual Fleet Blessing A large crowd enjoyed the Nelson Blessing of the Fleet 2017 fireworks, as has been the case for many years. Blessing ceremonies for fishing fleets are common around the world, though this may be the only one that regularly makes use of a fireworks display. The show is fired from a barge off Wakefield Quay, which has some significant advantages over land...

Confetti and Streamers for The 2017 Americas Cup

After Emirates Team New Zealand's victory in the 2017 Americas Cup, Firework Professionals Ltd provided confetti and streamers for numerous parades and events on the cups tour across the country. Each event was a little different, and the delivery methods were highly varied. In Auckland, waves of metallic streamers were thrown by the crowd lining the streets. As well, the sailors had boxes of...

Kidsfest 2017 – close proximity fireworks

In July we fired some effects in Christchurch's Margaret Mahy Playground for Kidsfest 2017. This was a fairly small event, though it will be memorable for the crowd. The effects included one of our rarely seen Maltese firework wheels. The same wheel was last used at a Cashel St mall display. An unusual contraption, it is loaded with colored firework lances and electrically powered for reliable...