The New Zealand public is ready for a ban on the retail sale
of fireworks, says Fire Service chief executive/national commander
Mike Hall, who is calling for a ban from 2007 on.
Three successive public opinion surveys from BRC Research
have shown that a majority of New Zealanders support a retail
ban, while nine out of ten people support some increase to
the current restrictions.
Mr Hall says the Fire Service’s decision to call for
a ban — while still supporting public fireworks displays
— makes sense on a number of levels.
“The increasing incidence of fireworks-related fires
year-on-year is taking firefighters away from legitimate call-outs.
The more fireworks fires we have, the more chance someone
can’t be reached in a genuine emergency.
“Last year we asked for public debate on the issue
of fireworks sales to the public. After the worst Guy Fawkes
in 10 years, the public response, through letters, petitions
and polls, was overwhelming: we are ready for a ban.
“From my point of view as head of the Fire Service,
I see it as putting explosive and incendiary devices in the
hands of 14 year olds, and I don’t support it.”
Mr Hall says Fire Service is just one of a growing number
of organisations calling for ban.
“The New Zealand Police support our call and all of
the organisations that make up the National Rural Fire Advisory
Committee — local governments, the Department of Conservation,
Federated Farmers, the Defence Force and private forest owners
as well as the National Rural Fire Authority — have
put their weight behind a ban.”
He says New Zealand is also out of step with other western
countries — particularly Australia, in our attitude
to fireworks sales.
Inspector Marc Paynter from the Police National Headquarters
says the Police’s backing of a ban this year is for
the same reasons they stated last year.
“It is always a minority of people who behave irresponsibly,
but they are taking increasing amounts of time to handle,
and causing increasing amounts of damage before they are brought
to our attention.
'Public displays are well organised, safe and spectacular.
We would prefer to put our resources into policing them, rather
than dealing with pockets of mayhem in the suburbs.'
Inspector Paynter says the fireworks-related incidents last
year ranged from about 240 exploded letterboxes, to fireworks
being shot at people, animals and gas stations.
In the 10-day period last year when fireworks were legally
for sale (October 27 to November 5) firefighters attended
over 700 fireworks-related fires while
Police attended nearly 1200 fireworks-related incidents.
A BRC research poll before November 2005 showed 54 percent
of people supported a retail ban. This figure grew to 66 percent
in a December 2005 survey and a retail ban had 61 percent
support as recently as June.
While fireworks remain legally for sale in 2006, the Fire
Service, Police, ERMA New Zealand and the Ministry for the
Environment are promoting a safety message which includes
a website giving details of public fireworks displays around
New Zealand as well as tips on using fireworks safely and
how to report misuse.
A special website www.GuyFawkes2006.govt.nz,
hosted by ERMA, has been established to provide access to
the information.