Guy Fawkes mayhem warning
Fire service callouts rise as opponents of fireworks prepare to lobby MPs to ban sales to the public
Guy Fawkes mayhem has started — and yet another stoush over the sale of fireworks.
As reports emerged yesterday of people shooting fireworks out of cars and aiming them at buildings and vegetation, anti-fireworks groups prepared to head to Parliament to lobby for a ban.
A select committee is hearing submissions after three separate petitions to ban fireworks sales garnered thousands of signatures.
But fireworks importers will also be addressing MPs, and they think a majority of the public is on their side.
They have been collecting signatures at retail sites and say their petition will show more people favour fireworks sales than oppose them.
The Government says it currently has no plans to change the law around fireworks.
Fire and Emergency’s national adviser on fire risk management Peter Gallagher said firefighters attended 41 fireworks-related incidents across the country over the weekend, up from 38 incidents at the same time last year.
“We are disappointed that in a small number of incidents reported, people shot fireworks from cars or aimed them towards vegetation and buildings,” he said.
“Most of the fireworks-related incidents were vegetation fires, although there was one involving a garden shed in CountiesManukau. Weekend sales periods tend to be busy for crews at Fire and Emergency.”
Auckland Council says no public events are planned tonight, although public displays are planned at The Trusts Arena in Henderson and at the Waikaraka Park speedway on Saturday night, November 9.
“Fireworks can still be let off on private property, but they are banned in public places [such as parks and beaches] across the whole of Auckland,” the council said.
Auckland Council is one of those supporting a ban, along with the SPCA and the NZ Veterinary Association.
Wellington City Council moved its annual fireworks display from Guy Fawkes night to Matariki last year, and Christchurch City Council held its public display at New Brighton last Friday night, November 1. That leaves most people expected to hold their own backyard fireworks parties, with risks heightened by warm, dry weather over most of the country.
A total fire ban is in place in Central Otago and Fire and Emergency NZ has asked people not to use fireworks across Otago and Southland.
Auckland councillor Richard Hills called out private fireworks set off in Central Auckland , tweeting: “This is illegal. Fireworks cannot be let off in public places. Also . . . did those jerks not notice we had a big building with its roof on fire just a week ago.”
Regulations permit fireworks sales only between November 2-5 each year.
Foodstuffs stopped selling fireworks in its Pak’nSave and New World supermarkets last year and Countdown stopped this year. Countdown general manager merchandise Scott Davidson said:
“Almost half of those surveyed said they were buying less fireworks than two years ago.”
The supermarkets’ withdrawal leaves The Warehouse as the main nationwide chain still selling fireworks this year.
Warehouse general manager of general merchandise Jenny Epke said: “Our stores have a selection of fireworks available for families that want to take part in the event, including special low noise options,” she said.
“We only promote their use in a safe and controlled way, with safety messages throughout our stores and on the packaging. All of our fireworks comply with the NZ Code of Practice for Retail Fireworks.”
SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen said that private sales should be banned completely, and urged people holding backyard events to advise their neighbours so that they could prepare their pets: “Some animals go so far to get out of it they’ll injure themselves breaking through walls and windows, and all sorts of things.”