Both Pyro Company and Bad Boy Fireworks operated pop-up shops in Balclutha, as part of a brief public retail window of November 1-5.
At one outlet, the salesman (who did not want to be named) said he had heard both brands had branches in Dunedin, Gore and Invercargill.
The pleasure and excitement on children’s and adults’ faces when choosing fireworks was "priceless", but he feared it was "going to be taken away".
"On the one hand, you’ve got idiots being deliberately irresponsible with [fireworks] and on the other, there’s the outrage brigade who think taking fun and freedom from others is progressive ... It’s the extremes ruining it for the majority in the middle."
Many New Zealanders with English connections remember Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night for November 5, 1605 — the date the Western World’s fledgling democracy was nearly obliterated by the Gunpowder Plot.
At about 3pm on November 5, the Pyro Company began to pack up after receiving a request to rush stock to Dunedin.
Around the corner at Bad Boy Fireworks, vendor Pip Martin said business had been steady since opening the previous Saturday.
"We’re allowed to stay open till almost midnight but I think we should be sold out by about 8 o’clock," he said.
Popular products this year included family "starter packs" and giant sparklers, while some customers splashed out on large "explosive" or "detonator" assortments, where transactions above $600 were common.
Clutha district moved into a restricted fire season on November 1, meaning all outdoor fires required permitting.
"We encourage you to think twice before setting fireworks off," Balclutha Fire Brigade Station Officer Stacey Murray said.
"Be a good neighbour. Let people around you know, especially if they have pets or livestock. Light them in a wide open space away from anything that could catch fire ... keep water handy and soak used fireworks before disposal."
Veteran firefighters Fraser Bunting and Ian Ross recalled Guy Fawkes used to be much busier for brigades.
"We all used to stay overnight at the station for bonfire night," Mr Bunting said.
