\u201cWe call on authorities and our community to take this seriously and protect our maunga.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reserve is a Special Ecological Area, \u201chome to Tauranga\u2019s richest native biodiversity\u201d.<\/p>\n
The statement said everyone has a \u201cresponsibility to respect the cultural, historical and ecological significance of Mauao to ensure he remains healthy and continues to support our community into the future\u201d.<\/p>\n
Residents took to social media to voice their concerns about fireworks on Mauao, Mount Maunganui\u2019s sacred maunga. Photo \/ Tauranga City Council<\/p>\n
\u201cWe thank the majority of our community who continue to do the right thing and help protect Mauao.\u201d <\/p>\n
Council strategic community relations adviser Laura Thomson-Bache told the Bay of Plenty Times the council did not receive official complaints about the fireworks, but the council\u2019s Mauao ranger was directly informed by people last night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are reviewing footage captured by our Tauranga Transport Operations Centre to identify anyone entering Mauao with obvious fireworks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Western Bay of Plenty police area commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said police received several reports of fireworks being let off around the Bay of Plenty last night.<\/p>\n
\u201cA report also mentioned fireworks were being let off on Mauao, however, the police did not locate anyone involved,” he said.<\/p>\n
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Clifford Paxton. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
A message posted on the Mount Maunganui Noticeboard last night by Porina Whetu McLeod thanked \u201cthose who may have influenced the desistance of fireworks on Mauao tonight\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cTorches were seen rushing to the fireworks, and they stopped soon after. Appreciate you, if that was the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
An \u014chauiti resident commented on Facebook that they had seen the fireworks going off on Mauao.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch disrespect of a very special taonga and so irresponsible to the safety of people near Mauao. Yet another reason to ban the sale of them<\/a> \u2013 people can\u2019t be trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n On the eve of Guy Fawkes, NZ First leader Winston Peters said the party had introduced a member\u2019s bill to ban the public sale and use of fireworks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Today, Parliament\u2019s Petitions Select Committee was due to hear evidence regarding three petitions calling for a total ban on the public sale of fireworks<\/p>\n Supporters of a ban included the SPCA, the NZ Veterinary Association, Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Animates.<\/p>\n Welcome Bay resident John Devery described the noise of fireworks going off in Waitaha Rd on Guy Fawkes night as \u201cinsane\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was like World War III, the repeated boom, boom, from about 7.30pm to 10.30pm was much louder than last year \u2026 It was like people got far more bang for their buck.\u201d<\/p>\n Devery said he feared for his neighbour\u2019s cows and one neighbour asked him for help after one of her spooked cows started \u201cstampeding\u201d around the farm paddock.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a huge fear that the cow would harm itself. People were letting off fireworks everywhere, some of which were down towards Greerton, Bayfair and Mount Maunganui.\u201d<\/p>\n Devery, who is the co-ordinator of a Waitaha Rd rural support group, said he \u201c100% backed\u201d the NZ First bill.<\/p>\n A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said crews responded to one fireworks-related incident overnight in the Bay of Plenty.<\/p>\n \u201cThis involved a scrub fire in Welcome Bay attended by three crews from Greerton and Tauranga stations around 9.40pm. There may be more incidents that come to light once incident reporting is completed.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the lack of incident reports, he urged people to remain vigilant.<\/p>\n People were urged to visit www.checkitsalright.nz<\/a> to check the current and upcoming weather conditions in their area to ensure it is safe to light fireworks. <\/p>\n