Mauao fireworks probe: Security camera footage shows seven potential suspects

It is illegal to light fires or fireworks on Mauao, near the entrance of the Tauranga Harbour. Photo/NZME.

Security camera footage shows seven people potentially involved in illegally letting off fireworks on Mauao.

There is a permanent fire ban on Mauao - including cigarettes, lighters, fireworks and recreational fires.

Tauranga City Council confirmed it had filed a police complaint after fireworks were set off on three consecutive nights from November 4 to November 6.

The council also imposed a nightly closure of Mauao from Friday night until 5am today, to “protect the maunga and ensure public safety”.

A fire ban has been announced for Papamoa and Mount Maunganui to prevent fires like this one on Mauao several years ago.

A fire on Mauao in January 2016 destroyed about 4000sq m of vegetation.

A Mauao Trust spokesperson earlier said the organisation was “outraged and deeply concerned” and called on the wider community to “respect the cultural, historical and ecological significance of Mauao”.

The council’s Mauao and heritage specialist, Josh Clark, told the Bay of Plenty Times that the council had not heard of further reports of fireworks being let off.

“We have heard that young people were letting off fireworks at Pilot Bay by the boat ramp, but this has not been confirmed.

“We are looking to have some Māori wardens onsite tonight to remind people that there are no fireworks allowed on Mauao, however, this will depend on availability,” he said.

Clark said the community had generally been respectful with few breaches.

When asked if there had been any further incidents, he said: “We are yet to have a full debrief, but to our knowledge, no fireworks were let off on the maunga”.

There had been no arrests, he said.

“At this stage, two people on November 4 and a group of five males on November 5 had been identified as potentially involved in letting off fireworks on Mauao.”

Security camera footage captured by the council’s Tauranga Transport Operations Centre on November 6 was still being reviewed, Clark said.

Under Section 94 (1) (a) of the Reserves Act, it is an offence to light fires on reserves, and the maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and/or two years in prison.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.