Breeding stallion Rockafella was put down on November 8 last year after being injured when he was spooked by fireworks and bolted through a wire fence. Photo \/ Chris Rugaas<\/p>\n
Rugaas said she would never get over his loss, and on the eve of November 5 she was \u201con edge\u201d and fearing for the safety of her other nine horses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I try to keep them safe, all I can do is hope and pray.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rugaas said she could not understand why people in New Zealand celebrated Guy Fawkes, which originated in Britain. <\/p>\n
She said there was \u201coverwhelming evidence\u201d fireworks sales to the general public should cease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe use of fireworks, especially by children, cannot be properly monitored. People save them up and let them off indiscriminately at any time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n
P\u0101p\u0101moa Hills resident Donna Matheson said she was \u201cnot the fun police\u201d but also backed the ban. <\/p>\n
Her mare Remi had to be put down in similar circumstances to Rockafella last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI totally get that everyone gets their fun from different stuff, but the risk is too great when people are prepared to commit silly acts that harm defenceless animals,\u201d Matheson said.<\/p>\n
P\u0101p\u0101moa Hills resident Donna Matheson and her 14-year-old mare Remi, who was put down on November 6, 2024. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople stockpile fireworks and let them off whenever they want. On one side are people\u2019s so-called fun, but on the other side of the sliding door is the fear and grief for animals and their owners.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said \u201ccommon sense must prevail\u201d when the select committee made its decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to obtain a licence to use a firearm and fireworks are essentially a firearm in the wrong hands, especially those who don\u2019t care when and where they let them off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fireworks harm data<\/p>\n
Matheson, with Tauranga friends Nadeen Mitchell and Louise Prastiti, launched the online nationwide Fireworks Impact Database on January 1 for people to log harm to people, animals, property and the environment.<\/p>\n
She said it had 165 responses, including 19 in the past five days, all from different parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Some responses made \u201cpretty powerful\u201d reading, including reports of a dozen animals killed and a mare losing its unborn foal. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have reports of harm occurring every month of the year, and in nine cases fireworks were reported to have been deliberately used to cause harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said 60% of the people harmed were children.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn two reported cases, the person suffered a permanent disability.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cost of private property damage reported totalled more than $2 million, she said. <\/p>\n
She said these cases showed it was only a matter of time before a person, \u201cmost likely a child, is killed\u201d. <\/p>\n
The Government would have \u201cblood on their hands\u201d if it failed to act, she said.<\/p>\n
The petitions committee will report back to the House on the hearings.<\/p>\n
SPCA\u2019s plea <\/p>\n
SPCA chief executive Todd Westword said the fireworks ban was \u201clong overdue\u201d as the impact extended \u201cfar beyond household pets\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year, animals across Aotearoa suffer needlessly. Horses, farmed animals, zoo animals, marine life and wild birds are all affected. It\u2019s time for meaningful change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton urges people to think of others before letting off fireworks.<\/p>\n
Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said there had been several fireworks-related reports in the district since the weekend.<\/p>\n
Paxton urged people to consider the fire risk, the risk to others and possible distress to animals before letting off fireworks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to remember that while fireworks are not illegal, people are expected to use them responsibly.\u201d<\/p>\n
People should call 111 immediately if they had \u201cimmediate concerns for their own safety or for the safety of property\u201d.<\/p>\n
Witnesses to an out-of-control party and street brawl<\/a> in Welcome Bay on Saturday night reported fireworks were aimed at houses.<\/p>\n Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bay of Plenty community risk manager Luke Burgess said there were three fireworks incidents on Sunday night.<\/p>\n They included a small tree fire in Gate P\u0101 and a garage wall fire in Welcome Bay \u2013 both extinguished by occupants \u2013 and three burning pampas bushes in \u014cp\u014dtiki, which firefighters put out.<\/p>\n He said people needed to be careful with fireworks this Guy Fawkes, with high winds in many parts of the country.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile there has been a fair bit of rain around, things do dry out quickly at this time of year and, as we\u2019ve seen, the current conditions will certainly allow fires to get large and out of control.<\/p>\n Fireworks safety tips<\/p>\n