Dunedin has not had a council-run pyrotechnics display at the annual event since welcoming in 2021 and this will not change for bringing in 2026.
The Dunedin City Council voted 9-6 yesterday against reinstating fireworks.
After mixed reviews for laser and light shows, a plan was pitched for a large fireworks display from Robin Hood Park in the Dunedin Town Belt.
It would have been visible from the Octagon, and much of the city, but did not win enough endorsement from councillors.
The council is instead poised to "reimagine" the event, such as by incorporating local themes or taking inspiration from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival.
Cr Steve Walker said reinstating fireworks would be backward-looking.
"In my view, fireworks need to be consigned to where they belong and they belong in history."
They should be replaced by contemporary, less-antisocial alternatives, he said.
Cr Walker was worried about potential harm to wildlife from a fireworks display and that it might "defile, ravage and contaminate our Town Belt".
Some people liked to be critical of "nice-to-haves", but were happy for the council to "explode their rates money and watch that money go up in six minutes of smoke", he said.
The cost of a fireworks show was quoted at $45,000, while the existing alternative of projection mapping in the Octagon had cost $40,000, a report for councillors said.
Cr Bill Acklin said he would have liked to see fireworks synched with music.
"Fireworks, to the multitudes, are very, very popular," he said.
"The time is right to do it again."
Cr Brent Weatherall lamented the council had decided to be "party poopers".
The fireworks proposal had come to the council because of public feedback, he said.
After listening to arguments against fireworks, Cr Jim O’Malley was exasperated.
"I think it’s fun. Levity, bringing in the new year, a spirit of happiness — seriously, folks."
Mayor Jules Radich said he was in the Octagon for the start of this year and bringing back fireworks was the most common subject raised with him.
The last time the council ran a pyrotechnics display for a New Year’s Eve event was to bring in 2021.
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 have been run the past three years as an alternative to fireworks.
Cr Sophie Barker had doubts about the value of mapping projections.
"I think we need to reimagine New Year’s Eve," she said.
"I don’t believe we need to copy other cities and centres with me-too fireworks.
"I think we need to create something uniquely ourselves."
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said the city celebrations should have a point of difference.
Reinstating fireworks
How they voted.—
For (6): Mayor Jules Radich, Crs Bill Acklin, David Benson-Pope, Carmen Houlahan, Jim O’Malley, Brent Weatherall.
Against (9): Crs Cherry Lucas, Sophie Barker, Christine Garey, Kevin Gilbert, Marie Laufiso, Mandy Mayhem, Lee Vandervis, Steve Walker, Andrew Whiley.
