Fireworks debate reignites as officials warn of rising fire and safety risks – The Front Page

Nobody wants to see the demise of controlled pyrotechnics...it is the indiscriminate use of fireworks in uncontrolled circumstances that should be banned. FILE PHOTO

It’s that time of year again, when we debate whether New Zealanders should be allowed to let off fireworks.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is among those opposed, saying it knows firsthand how dangerous fireworks can be.

Last year was the worst year for fireworks-related fires since 2017, with 166 unwanted blazes.

Firework sales are restricted to four days from November 2 to 5 each year – but there are growing calls to scrap them.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s readiness and recovery national manager, Adrian Nacey, told The Front Page that a significant fire in Pegasus, North Canterbury, in November 2022, is a prime example of how things can get out of control.

“Fireworks were set off at the beach there, got into the pine plantation, and got out of control.

“That burnt for around 200 hectares of pine forest and also some native regenerating forests that the local community had planted. We had to evacuate the community in the middle of the night, putting people into evacuation centres, evacuating people from the campground, and a horse stud.

“That fire took us five days to put out, and that one cost over $400,000 for us to deal with.

“We’ve also had a couple of pretty significant nights for fireworks. For instance, we had a particularly windy and hot year at the end of 2022, and then in the middle of the night on New Year’s Eve, at one point, we were responding to 15 fires set off by fireworks at the same time.

“For communities, that’s not where they want our crews in the middle of the night,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

Firefighters aren’t the only ones against the public sale of fireworks.

SPCA is intensifying its advocacy efforts to protect animals from distress and harm caused by fireworks.

The group’s scientific officer, Dr Alison Vaughan, told The Front Page, that they are seeing huge support for a ban.

“We know that from surveys in New Zealand that up to 75% of cats and dogs are frightened of fireworks. Also, other animals like horses can not only be frightened, but also, quite often seriously injured.

" This is a very common and very predictable, but also very avoidable, um, cause of suffering for animals," she said.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about:

• Fireworks restrictions
• Checking conditions
• Alternatives available
• What pet owners can do
• Could there be tighter rules around fireworks?

The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016.

You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.