Bid to ban private fireworks gains support
Backyard Guy Fawkes displays could soon be a thing of the past for Aucklanders after councillors voted to ask the Government to ban private fireworks sales.
Public support among Aucklanders for a ban appears to be overwhelming – a report considered by councillors yesterday showed nearly 90 per cent of 7997 public submissions supported making private sales and use illegal.
Councillor Cathy Casey has been a key driver of the proposed ban. Last year, she was behind a notice of motion requesting the governing body ask the Government to introduce legislation to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public and end their private use.
Councillor Efeso Collins backed Casey’s stance.
Currently, Auckland Council only has the ability to ban fireworks in public places, which it already does.
Casey’s notice of motion, contained in the report presented to councillors, stated Auckland Council compliance staff were supportive of a ban.
The report showed ACC received 516 claims for fireworksrelated injuries in 2016. In 2015, the previous Government received a petition signed by 32,000 people to ban sales.
Yesterday, Casey said public submissions had brought the mood for change to the fore.
‘‘What we want to do is reduce harm – this is a growing city, people are flooding to Auckland,’’ she said.
‘‘We say to the Government; we want you to protect people from harm done on private places from fireworks.
‘‘The people of Auckland have spoken, it’s time to ban the private use and sale of fireworks.’’
Collins has previously said the death of private fireworks displays meant local government would have a larger role to play in encouraging more free public fireworks events.
However, councillor Linda Cooper claimed some importers had said they would not be able to hold public displays if private sales were outlawed.
This could be an ‘‘unintended consequence’’ of a fireworks ban, she said, adding festivals related to Chinese New Year and Diwali could be impacted.
Councillor Chris Darby asked if a private ban meant companies could still hold Guy Fawkes events, which traumatised thousands of birds, dogs and horses.
But staff confirmed private companies would still be allowed to hold displays.
Casey has previously argued Guy Fawkes ‘‘season’’ stretched emergency services.
‘‘Year-round, fireworks cause unnecessary distress and injury to people, animals, birds and livestock and misuse of fireworks puts huge pressure on emergency services through unnecessary fires, property damage and injuries,’’ she said.