No fireworks related injuries have been reported in Northland this Guy Fawkes.
No fireworks related injuries have been reported in Northland this Guy Fawkes.
No fireworks-related injuries have been reported to animal welfare agencies or hospitals in Northland this Guy Fawkes.
In light of renewed calls to ban firecrackers because of the dangers they present to children and animals, the Whangarei SPCA said no reports of injuries to animals have been received as of4pm yesterday.
Northland Vet Group - which has three Whangarei locations and after hours service - also reported no injuries.
The SPCA has long called for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public and has urged people to sign an online petition, on website www.change.org, to ban the public sale of fireworks and only allow public displays.
Late Tuesday, the petition had more than 9000 signatures from people across the country.
Meanwhile, Guy Fawkes night in the Far North was one of the quietest on record.
Rural firefighters ready to enforce district-wide fire restrictions did not have a single call-out, which principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor believed was a first.
He said the wet weather was likely to have been the main factor but said it also appeared messages about the current fire danger and restrictions in the Far North were getting through.
The fire authority had an unprecedented number of calls from people wanting to know if it was possible to let off fireworks, or wanting advice on doing it safely.
The only call-out for the Far North's urban brigades was in Haruru Falls, where the Paihia Fire Brigade responded to reports of a bush fire, but arrived to find a church group holding a bonfire. The "very responsible" group had a fire permit, a hose at the ready and the fire well under control.
Northern Advocate readers took to Facebook to provide feedback on their Guy Fawkes night experience.
Tania Collings said her son's kitten stayed snugged up in his bed for the night and when it rained, the noise was all over.
Stacey Thomas said authorities should ban public sale of firecrackers and just have the organised shows. "People were still letting them off after 11(pm) in our neighbourhood."
Michelle Reid's dog has always been terrified of fireworks and her family didn't buy them. However, Megan Plunkett said her family let a cascade off and her dog got excited and started barking because he wanted to play with it.
