The Dunedin City Council this afternoon voted 7-6 to reinstate a pyrotechnics display off the Civic Centre.
Dunedin has not had a council-run fireworks display at the annual event since welcoming 2021.
Laser and light shows were sometimes run instead, but received mixed reviews.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker had in the past voted against fireworks, but supported them this time.
"It's really important for us to put on a good show," she said.
Cr Andrew Simms said last year's event was well intentioned but fell flat.
What was required this time were fireworks, a decent covers band and a crescendo at midnight, he said.
Cr Brent Weatherall described opponents of fireworks as mean-spirited party poopers.
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said she was no party pooper, but she was opposed to the extra spending.
The budget for the event is $159,000 - an increase of about $27,000.
The increase will come from within the budget for delivering festivals and events.
Fireworks have been budgeted to cost about $50,000.
Cr Doug Hall was among those who voted against.
The council would be "burning money in the sky", he said.
Cr Mickey Treadwell was worried about the impact on wildlife and Cr Steve Walker said the noise terrorised pets and caused stress for vulnerable citizens.
Cr Benedict Ong said the community should not have to make do with fireworks at the council table.
Council staff noted in a report the most common complaint about the event in recent years was lack of fireworks.
"Fireworks were traditionally a key feature of the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Octagon until 2020-21."
Scrim around the Civic Centre and Municipal Chambers posed a fire risk, resulting in discontinuation of the display, the report said.
New Year’s Eve festivities in the Octagon to bring in 2022 were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic and light and laser shows were run in the next three years as an alternative to fireworks.
"These received increasingly mixed reviews from the public through direct feedback, media coverage and online commentary," the council briefing paper said.
"Public feedback consistently referenced the absence of fireworks during these years."
Last year, a music-based event was run in the Octagon and the celebrations also featured family-oriented entertainment in George St.
The family zone is to be retained for the 2026-27 event.
Scrim around the Civic Centre was reduced last year, making a fireworks display off the Civic Centre possible again, the report said.
How they voted:
For reinstating fireworks (7): Mayor Sophie Barker and Crs John Chambers, Russell Lund, Benedict Ong, Andrew Simms, Lee Vandervis, Brent Weatherall.
Against (6): Crs Christine Garey, Doug Hall, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Mickey Treadwell, Steve Walker.
