Matariki fireworks: Waipukurau horse owners fear a nightmare night

A Waipukurau woman says she fears for the safety of her horses and her neighbours' ahead of Friday's Matariki ki Tamatea Festival fireworks display at Russell Park.

Jane McPhee said she has no choice but to try and get her two horses, Gypsy and Maddy, off the Lindsay Rd property while the display is taking place, just a few hundred metres away.

"The smaller fireworks might be okay but it's the big rockets that we're concerned about, that rapid banging and popping will drive them nuts." she said.

"If I don't get them off the property, Maddy could go through the fences."

McPhee said she has no other option but to take Gypsy and Maddy off the property, but other horse owners nearby won't be able to. Photo / Warren Buckland

Central Hawke's Bay District Council customer relationships and experience manager Lisa Harrison said all the appropriate licenses were secured to display a five-minute fireworks display in Russell Park on Friday, June 18 at 8pm.

"Our Tamatea Matariki committee were aware of the surrounding stock at Russell Park and made precautions prior to the booking of the venue," she said.

"We ensured all animal owners were made aware 10 days in advanced via mailbox drops."

Te Rangi Huata, who is a licensed fireworks handler and is the events manager for Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, has been displaying fireworks for the past 20 years for all six Ngati Kahungunu Matariki festivals, the customer relationships and experience manager said.

McPhee, who is in her late 60s, said it was not that easy to move horses and she is nervous about doing so.

"I'm going to have to get them off the property but there are other neighbours, who are closer who can't. Their horses are in more of a direct line who will feel and see it all really closely," she said.

Harrison apologised for any inconvenience caused to any animal owners near the venue, and said they had provided a solution for some.

"Kirsty Lawrence who is the Waipukurau Jockey Club vice president has opened the yards down Racecourse Rd for any animal owners that want to house their horses or ponies for the night," she said.

McPhee said Gypsy and Maddy could be sensitive to new surroundings so it seemed like her only choice would be to take her horses for a drive in their float, which they haven't been on in months, until the fireworks are over.

"We also have a poodle that we know will be frightened, but it'll be fine because you can control that and keep her inside, but you can't do that with a horse," she said.

CHBDC's advice to animal owners to keep them safe is to "ensure that you have a safe place for them to be, whether it is inside with you or in their own outside enclosure".

"I don't know what they're thinking when they say keep your animals inside or in their own, safe, outside enclosure – their safe place is their paddock," McPhee said.

"What they basically mean is move off the property."