Push on for national fireworks ban NZ First to also have a deputy vote
The sale and private use of fireworks will become illegal in New Zealand if a proposal from two Auckland councillors is successful.
Councillors Cathy Casey and Fa’anana Efeso Collins will present a motion today to the Auckland Council to lobby the new Labourled government to ban the private sale and use of fireworks nationally.
Currently, the council can regulate only fireworks being set off on public property.
If successful, the council would look at prioritising public displays.
The sale of fireworks is regulated by the Hazardous Substances Regulation Act, which allows them to be sold between November 2 and November 5 only, and restricts sales to people over the age of 18.
In 2015 the National-led government received a petition signed by about 32,000 people calling for a ban, stating fireworks caused ‘‘unnecessary distress and injury’’ to people, animals and livestock.
The petition said firework seasons, such as Guy Fawkes and New Year’s Eve, put huge pressure on emergency services through unnecessary fires, property damage and injuries.
However, the proposal, which was supported by the SPCA, SAFE and the NZ Veterinarians Association, was rejected.
The public sale of fireworks was made illegal in most Australian states in the 1980s, barring the Northern Territories and Tasmania where strict restrictions were put in place.
There were 516 fireworksrelated injury claims in New Zealand in 2016.
Casey, who was spearheading the proposal, said approaching the Government was the logical next step towards reducing fireworks’ harm to people and animals.
‘‘We would really like fireworks to be a community event as opposed to a private one because it’s too dangerous, it causes too much upset and too many injuries,’’ Casey said.
‘‘There would be no better thing that could happen than if the Government decided to take fireworks out of the public’s hands,’’ Casey said.
She said she was ‘‘very confident’’ local and central government would support the ban.
Collins said the private sale of fireworks did nothing towards keeping communities and the public safe.
‘‘If we can make sure fireworks are in safe hands than we can enjoy it as a community,’’ Collins said.
SPCA communications manager Jessie Gilchrist said the SPCA had long called for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public.
‘‘The loud noises and bright flashes of light can be very frightening to animals and many animals become highly stressed by them,’’ she said.
‘‘Every year the SPCA gets reports of animals running away and going missing, injuring themselves or becoming susceptible to traffic accidents – and in some cases, there are fatalities.’’
In 2017, a duck died in the parking lot of south Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital after fireworks were shoved into its beak.
Vet nurse Heather Hewitt said one dog had been so frightened by fireworks he broke through a window and bled to death. The National Party’s leadership race has been the focus of the past week, but now NZ First also has a contest on its hands.
On Tuesday, National announced the position of deputy leader was up for grabs, alongside the race for the top spot. Later in the day NZ First followed suit.
NZ First put out a statement confirming leader Winston Peters had once again been confirmed as the party leader.
‘‘During a time of upheaval today’s confirmation reinforces the stability that New Zealand First brings to the New Zealand political system,’’ the statement read.
Last year, Clayton Mitchell was confirmed as the party’s chief whip, and Darroch Ball was elected by caucus as deputy whip.
However, the position of deputy leader is now up for grabs, and will be confirmed at the party’s next caucus meeting.
The post is held by Defence Minister Ron Mark, but on Tuesday Under-Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fletcher Tabuteau refused to rule himself out of the race.
When asked whether he was putting his name forward, he replied ‘‘no comment’’.
However, when media asked why he didn’t just rule himself out, Tabuteau said: ‘‘where’s the fun in that?’’
Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones has indicated he’s unlikely to stand for the post.
Children’s Minister Tracey Martin is another possible contender, however, she had made no statement about whether she was or was not planning on putting her name forward for the gig.
National MPs would be voting on both its leader and deputy leader at Tuesday’s caucus meeting.