Piha Ratepayers and Residents had a big success this week.

Auckland Council at its Governing Body meeting on 22 August adopted a new Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw, with much strengthened law around letting off fireworks, flares and incendiary devices, and this is entirely the result of advocacy by the Piha R&R.

The report adopting the bylaw, specifically outlined how the Piha R&R had supported the proposed ban on fireworks in public places, but asked that the bylaw extend to the letting off of fireworks on private property that could go into public places such as parks and cause fires that threatened forest, wildlife and private property.

This was accepted by the committee hearing the bylaw. Successive AGMs of Piha R&R have asked for these controls and the Piha Fire Service has outlined how most fires at Piha have been caused by fireworks, flares and similar devices.

The actual words of the bylaw (Part 2, 6, 3) are:

“A person must not set off fireworks, flares or any other explosive material:

a) in a public place, except with the prior written approval of the council or a council controlled organisation; and

b) In any other place, in a way that does or is likely to create a nuisance or endanger any person, property, dog or other animal in a public place.”