Fireworks survey

Published on 03 July 2019

There were over 1100 responses to Whanganui District Council’s recent online survey asking for residents’ views on the restriction of fireworks.

Respondents were asked if there should be: no public or private use of fireworks; fireworks should be restricted to public displays; the current regulations are about right; the current regulations are too strict; and, there should be no restrictions.

“Just over seventy-one percent of respondents said fireworks should be restricted to public displays,” says Stephanie Macdonald-Rose, Council Policy and Governance Manager.

“The results of the online survey reflect the recent annual Community Views Survey which included a question asking respondents whether they agree with the restriction of fireworks in Whanganui.

“In that survey, sixty-eight percent of residents surveyed agreed there should be restrictions, while twenty percent disagreed and eleven percent were unsure,’ Stephanie Macdonald-Rose says.

Council Chief Executive Kym Fell says “it’s great to have this snapshot of our community’s view on the restriction of fireworks. However, it is central government’s responsibility to control the use of fireworks.”

Results of the online survey:

There should be no public or private use of fireworks 5.69%;

Fireworks use should be restricted to public displays 71.48%;

Current regulations are about right 17.87%;

Current regulations are too strict 2.53%;

There should be no restrictions on the use of fireworks 2.44%.