Combat Sports Law Reform
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Building the Future of Combat Sports in Aotearoa New Zealand
The regulation of combat sports in New Zealand is changing.
Whether you are an athlete, coach, official, promoter, gym owner, administrator, or supporter of combat sports, the decisions being made now will shape the future of our industry for decades to come.
The New Zealand Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NZMMAF) believes law reform is inevitable. The question is not whether change will happen, but whether that change is informed by the people who live and breathe combat sports every day.
Our position is simple:
Combat sports communities should have a seat at the table.
As the recognised National Sporting Organisation for Mixed Martial Arts, NZMMAF is committed to helping lead that conversation and ensuring that any future framework is practical, evidence-based, and informed by the wider combat sports community.
NZMMAF's Longstanding Interest in Reform
NZMMAF's involvement in governance and law reform did not begin with the current legislative process.
For many years, NZMMAF has advocated for stronger governance, improved safety standards, greater accountability, and better recognition of combat sports within New Zealand's sporting system. Alongside its work developing MMA in New Zealand, the organisation has repeatedly identified the need for modern frameworks that reflect the realities of contemporary combat sports.
Over that time, NZMMAF has developed rules, safety standards, officiating pathways, disciplinary processes, and international relationships designed to improve athlete welfare and strengthen the integrity of the sport. It has also consistently raised concerns about gaps in New Zealand's wider combat sports framework.
The current law reform process is not the beginning of that conversation. It is the latest chapter in a discussion NZMMAF has been contributing to for many years.
Where We Are Today
For more than 40 years, combat sports in New Zealand have operated under the Boxing and Wrestling Act 1981.
The Act was developed at a time when the combat sports landscape looked very different. Mixed Martial Arts did not exist in New Zealand, and many of today's most popular combat sports either did not exist or were not contemplated when the legislation was drafted. As a result, the law has struggled to keep pace with the evolution of modern combat sports and modern expectations around athlete welfare, health and safety, and integrity.
NZMMAF has publicly supported modernisation of the law, while consistently maintaining that any repeal of existing legislation should be accompanied by a suitable replacement framework.
Why Reform Is Necessary
Combat sports have changed dramatically over the past four decades.
Participation has grown, new disciplines have emerged, and our understanding of athlete safety has advanced significantly. Yet many of the structures surrounding combat sports remain fragmented.
NZMMAF believes New Zealand has an opportunity to develop a framework that:
- Prioritises athlete safety
- Supports integrity across combat sports
- Recognises the expertise already present within the industry
- Provides consistency where it is needed
- Protects participants while enabling participation and growth
- Reflects international best practice while remaining practical for New Zealand
These goals are not unique to MMA. They are issues shared across the wider combat sports community.
What NZMMAF Has Done So Far
NZMMAF has been actively involved in discussions about the future of combat sports regulation for many years.
Recent work has included:
- Engaging with Sport New Zealand regarding combat sports governance and reform
- Researching safety outcomes and regulatory models
- Reviewing coronial information relevant to combat sports safety
- Working with combat sport organisations to identify common challenges and opportunities for collaboration
- Making submissions to Parliament on proposed legislative changes (Watch the Select Committee Submissions)
- Providing detailed feedback on proposals for a future combat sports framework
- Advocating for any future regulatory model to be developed alongside the combat sports community, not in isolation (2026 NZ First Announcement)
A Community-Led Approach
NZMMAF does not believe that one organisation, one code, or one stakeholder group should determine the future of combat sports regulation.
The combat sports community is diverse. It includes MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, grappling disciplines, traditional martial arts, promoters, officials, coaches, athletes, medical professionals, and many others.
That is why NZMMAF has consistently called for consultation, collaboration, and co-design.
Our view is straightforward:
The people most affected by the framework should help create it.
We do not claim to speak for every athlete, every gym, every promoter, or every combat sport. What we do believe is that those voices should be heard before decisions are made.
What Comes Next
Law reform is coming.
The key question is whether the future framework will be informed by the people who understand combat sports, or developed without sufficient industry input.
NZMMAF believes combat sports practitioners should help shape the future of combat sports regulation in New Zealand.
If change is inevitable, then the combat sports community should be helping to lead the conversation, not waiting for others to define its future.
Have Your Say
NZMMAF is now expanding its consultation efforts and wants to hear from the wider community.
Whether you are an athlete, coach, official, promoter, gym owner, volunteer, supporter, or part of a governing organisation, your perspective matters.
Register Your Interest
Join the NZMMAF Law Reform Consultation Network
Receive:
- Updates on law reform developments
- Consultation opportunities
- Community forums and surveys
- Discussion papers and proposals
- Opportunities to provide feedback directly to NZMMAF
The future of combat sports should be shaped with the community, not simply presented to it or imposed over the top of it.