Councillors are set to debate tomorrow whether fireworks should be reinstated for New Year’s Eve city celebrations and if they are, Robin Hood Park is the likely location.
The alternative of a pyrotechnics display over the harbour — like the one in 1998 for the 150th anniversary of the first European settlers arriving — has been a prominent theme in social media discussions.
However, the waterfront was not favoured the last time options were evaluated and there could be no public fireworks display at all.
Robin Hood Park and the status quo, described in a report as a concert and family-friendly celebrations, are the two options that have been put in front of councillors.
The party to bring in 2026 featured neither fireworks nor a projection mapping display and was roundly criticised in public feedback for being anticlimactic.
Council staff said direction was needed from councillors about the future of Dunedin’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The Otago Daily Times asked if the harbour had been discounted as a viable location for fireworks.
Enterprise Dunedin manager Sian Sutton said Robin Hood Park, near the Beverly Begg Observatory, was identified as the best site for any future New Year’s Eve fireworks display after considering the suitability of a range of locations, including the waterfront.
"A fireworks display from a barge in the harbour would require a significantly larger budget for the event, due to the location, environmental challenges and planning logistics and compliance costs involved."
A council report said the cost of delivering a New Year’s Eve party was $132,000, covering expenses such as production, security and traffic management.
The cost of fireworks or a light show would be an additional $45,000.
This could be absorbed within the budget envelope through a reduction in production quality, music and by not having a secondary location for family-friendly activity, the report said.
Dunedin has not run a New Year’s Eve pyrotechnics display since welcoming in 2021.
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.
The event was "reimagined" to welcome in 2026, including operating a family zone in George St and a parade to the Octagon.
"Public feedback consistently mentioned the lack of fireworks in years where light and laser shows were a feature of celebrations," the council report said.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker and city councillor Andrew Simms both sought further feedback on social media.
A post by Cr Simms had attracted 250 comments by yesterday afternoon.
Ms Barker ran a Facebook poll and this had more than 640 votes by yesterday afternoon.
She asked if Dunedin should have fireworks for New Year’s Eve — yes was leading on 60%, no had 13% and "let’s do something else" was on 27%.
Ms Barker said in an earlier Facebook post she loved fireworks, "but I do wonder about them nowadays", especially in the wildlife capital of New Zealand.
