Fireworks went on sale on Saturday, before Guy Fawkes day today.
Dunedin Hyalite Hydroponics manager Adrian Ruthven had ordered about half of his usual quantity of fireworks, 1.5 tonnes instead of 2.5-3 tonnes, because sales were trending down.
"It's been a bit quiet, it's definitely down on last year,'' he said.
"People are losing interest in it. New Zealand's slowly becoming more politically correct and a lot of people don't want to upset their neighbours.''
Fire risk management officer Mark Bredenbeck, of Dunedin, said the number of fireworks-related callouts in the city was down on last year.
He also believed fewer people were selling fireworks this year.
"It's really good. It could just be a blip but hopefully it's a trend that will continue, because it is a bit of a pain.''
He was hoping today's forecast rain would also keep issues to a minimum.
The total fire ban which was in place in Central Otago was lifted last night.
Anyone planning to set off fireworks should make sure they had a bucket of water on hand, keep an eye on where fireworks landed, and avoid setting them off anywhere near foliage.
Those keen to check out a public fireworks display around Otago have a few options.
In Lawrence, Simpson Park will host the Light Up Festival from 7pm-10pm on Friday.
Also on Friday, Weston School will hold a fireworks display at the Weston Domain at 7pm.
The annual Arrowtown Fireworks Display will also be held on Friday in Nairn St, from 7.30pm.
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And nothing in Dunedin... :/
I don't know about 'politically correct'
More likely, Kiwi's understand the stress fireworks put on animals. Not just dogs, but also cats and livestock. This combined with the misuse of fireworks, and the potential for numerous fires, appears to have put fireworks in the 'simply not worth it' category.
Fear not Mr Ruthven. After not having bothered for several years, I'm heading out today to buy the biggest box I can find, precisely because of all these awful people tut-tutting about it.
It's got nothing to do with political correctness. What we are slowly seeing is a backlash against those who use fireworks without any regard for others. If you want to blame anyone, blame those irresponsible people. I for one am sick of them.
More people are concerned about the effect fireworks have on property and animals. If being concerned about the well being of animals, your neighbours and their property is PC, then bring it on.
"It's been a bit quiet, it's definitely down on last year,'' he said.
Good! I'll let the dog know, when she wakes up from smashing herself in desperation against her kennel half the night. I'm sure she'll also be relieved to hear that last night wasn't even Guy Fawkes - that the real fun starts tonight ... and probably the night after ... and the night after.
'Cry me a river' if his sales are down.
"People are losing interest in it. New Zealand's slowly becoming more politically correct and a lot of people don't want to upset their neighbours.''
And that's about the state of it these days, we are all becoming 'offended' at the slightest thing these days.
Heaven forbid we live in Community with consideration of others.
These days, those who play the PC card just sound antisocial.
The fireworks have gotten less powerful, and have become politically correct themselves. Bigger fireworks sir. Guy Fawkes was trying to blow up parliament house, not frighten the dogs. Less we end up going fully pagan and do wickermen (think burning man). Hey maybe that's what the Dunedin couch fires are.
I think it’s fantastic that fireworks are becoming a thing of the past. They cause so much distress to animals
Great, peace and quiet. It's not about political correctness nor the 'tutt tutt brigade. It's more about, thinking of others and the negative effects in regard to cost of fires to the NZ Fire Service, tax payers, and insurance companies. A controlled fire works display is the way to go. Folk just letting of fireworks randomly is hardly a celebration to those who don't expect loud bangs in the night for weeks on end. Your neighbours have lives too, some of them have just had a baby, an operation or recovering from an illness, some work long hours with hell shifts. Conscious social responsibility....thinking of others. We're allowed to mature as a society aren't we?
Political correctness? What rubbish! Common sense more like. Sure, fireworks are fun, but it is essentially burning money--and many of us can't afford to do that. Perhaps it is time to capture the cost of the fires and the injuries to various living things in the price of the fireworks. Then people can make a fully "rational" decision on whether to buy them or not.