Fireworks: ban on private use, only permit professional displays

Forums › Off topic › Fireworks: ban on private use, only permit professional displays

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#3156128 5-Nov-2023 13:05

SJB:

Can someone explain to me why Guy Fawkes is even relevant in NZ?

Have you ever used the word "guy"? If so, there's your relevance.

Guy Fawkes Night celebrates King James I surviving an attempted assassination in 1605. Members of the public celebrated with bonfires following the event and in January 1606, Parliament passed the Observance of 5th November Act. Guy Fawkes Night has been celebrated ever since. The original Act was not repealed for more than 253 years, at which time the occasion became recognised under the Anniversary Days Observance Act 1859. New Zealand was already established as a British colony before the original Act was repealed, with the tradition brought to our shores by our earliest European settlers.

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#3156185 5-Nov-2023 13:55

Even the pros are screwing up this year...... unfortunately can see them being banned outright.

Not that I mind.... just spent $55 on some and walked away with a whole 4 items. Gone are the days of dozen moon rockets for $1 :)

XPD / Gavin

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Eva888

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#3156251 5-Nov-2023 14:38

Here we go...people burnt and kids traumatised.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/501731/speedway-fans-say-faulty-fireworks-at-waikaraka-park-landed-in-crowd-leaving-some-with-burns

tweake

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#3156256 5-Nov-2023 15:11

Eva888: Here we go...people burnt and kids traumatised.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/501731/speedway-fans-say-faulty-fireworks-at-waikaraka-park-landed-in-crowd-leaving-some-with-burns

in the vid is shows a "star" landing in the crowd, looks like from a low charged motor. certainly not a 'plug" as claimed. no doubt a few burns from that.

Lias

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#3156261 5-Nov-2023 15:34

I'm very firmly in the "you'll pry my fireworks from my cold dead hands" camp. If they ever do ban the sale of personal fireworks I'll probably make the effort to become a certified handler just so I can legally make my own.

IMHO accidents and irresponsible use are not now, nor have they ever been, good reasons for banning things, be that fireworks, cars, knives, guns, drugs, or anything else.

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GV27

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#3156272 5-Nov-2023 16:31

Lias:

IMHO accidents and irresponsible use are not now, nor have they ever been, good reasons for banning things, be that fireworks, cars, knives, guns, drugs, or anything else.

Agreed. People have been maiming themselves long before fireworks and will continue to do so long after they are banned.

There are many things that don't make sense or are no longer relevant in our world. Most of them are a problem than fireworks.

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SCUBADOO

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#3156275 5-Nov-2023 16:35

Everyone is out to spoil my annual birthday fun.

Eva888

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#3156278 5-Nov-2023 16:47

SCUBADOO: Everyone is out to spoil my annual birthday fun.

Happy Birthday. I’m guessing sparklers on the birthday cake?

Eva888

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#3156280 5-Nov-2023 16:55

Burnt into my memory as a kid being told how to make fizzers out of double happies and Tom thumbs. The pain of that fizzer burning a hole into my thumb was so excruciating I almost fainted.

kingdragonfly

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#3156283 5-Nov-2023 17:24

I still bear a scar where me and my brother had a "bottle rocket", a small Skyrocket, battle, and even some "Roman candle" batlles. It's by sheer chance I didn't lose an eye, or suffer a disfiguring burn.

As children, we were also very much trying to get "m80" fireworks, which was originally used by the US military to simulate battle field explosions. It was more than capable of blowing off some fingers.

Even if fireworks were regulated to be only used by adults (only recommended in NZ), I'm sure almost no one has an explosive safe for its proper storage, unlike the equivalent required gun safes.

I grant you can't cotton wool wrap children to protect them from themselves, but pets, zoos, horses, native birds don't have a say.

Also I wonder how many people who moan about not using fireworks are also volunteer fire workers willing to work after midnight on Christmas and New Years eve to put out wildfires.

Geektastic

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#3156358 5-Nov-2023 19:52

SJB:
Can someone explain to me why Guy Fawkes is even relevant in NZ?

Well, it’s as relevant as Matariki, Christmas, Diwali etc etc. There are a lot of British people and people of British ancestry here.

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panther2

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#3156392 5-Nov-2023 21:35

cannot believe the prices of these fireworks these days 350 for a big box at cracker jacks.

kiwifidget

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#3156421 5-Nov-2023 22:03

I'm in England at the moment and fireworks have been a nightly entertainment in my brother's neighbourhood for the last 3 nights. I can't wait to see what happens tonight for the real thing.

It was a bit disconcerting to find a skyrocket carcass lying on the roof of our rental car this morning.

A few summers ago, back in NZ, our deck was set on fire by a wayward skyrocket when we were out. Luckily the neighbours spotted it and put it out.

I wouldn't object to banning residential use of fireworks that get airborne and can escape the confines of your property. The ones you put on a fence, or stand on the ground, and sparklers can all stay.

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#3156422 5-Nov-2023 22:07

panther2:

cannot believe the prices of these fireworks these days 350 for a big box at cracker jacks.

$350? Pocket change! "The Container Load" from Boom Brothers is $1,000 from a random shipping container in East Tamaki.

Prices are up significantly this year. Without Countdown, The Warehouse and others in the market, they can pretty much charge whatever they like.

johno1234

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#3156473 6-Nov-2023 07:03

I have wonderful childhood memories of a get together with our neighbours for a bbq then setting off our combined arsenal.

My kids really enjoyed something similar when they were growing up.

It will be sad to see this kiwi tradition ended because of dickheads and the fun police.

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