18,000 call for ban on fireworks
The tradition of writing your name in the air with a sparkler may be set to fizzle out, as calls to ban fireworks mount.
A petition of nearly 18,000 signatures calling for a ban on the retail sale of fireworks was presented to Parliament yesterday.
Green Party animal welfare spokesperson Gareth Hughes, who accepted the petition, said the private sale of fireworks was dangerous.
‘‘Fireworks cause hundreds of accidents each year, start fires and cause distress and sometimes injuries to animals.’’
The proposed ban would introduce licensing arrangements for those wishing to ‘‘responsibly’’ detonate fireworks for public displays, which would be administered by local councils.
Hughes said he had heard many stories of injury and trauma from fireworks and urged the Government to act on the issue so the public could embrace fireworks ‘‘without the worries and danger of ad hoc private use’’.
‘‘Accidents involving fireworks result in injuries to many, and to young people disproportionately,’’ the petition, lodged by Chris Eichbaum, reads.
The petition said domestic animals are ‘‘often traumatised’’ by fireworks.
The New Zealand Veterinary Association supported the ban, but appreciated the mixed sentiment.
‘‘We know there are people who love fireworks and we know there are animals that don’t care,’’ chief veterinary officer Dr Helen Beattie said.
‘‘We see our role as progressing animal welfare and the animals that are very [firework] phobic, it’s very distressing for them.
‘‘Fireworks can also cause severe anxiety and stress in animals and this psychological harm is a significant component of their compromised welfare.’’
She said she knew of some animals injuring themselves from behaviours that came as a result of that panic, from mouth injuries from gnawing on things, breaking fences trying to escape, as well as car accidents from running across roads in terror.