A mostly trouble-free Guy Fawkes night was marred by a handful of child injuries and a spike in terrified pets going missing.
Emergency services reported relatively few incidents last night as people flocked to public fireworks displays throughout the country or celebrated at their homes.
The Fire Service said there were no large fires linked to public or private fireworks displays, but there were some minor vegetation and rubbish fires that may have been linked to fireworks.
The number of callouts was higher than usual for a Saturday night, particularly in the drier parts of the South Island.
Police rescued one woman who fell off the Taranaki Street Wharf in central Wellington.
At about 8:40pm yesterday, Senior Constable Ross Lane jumped in the water and swam to recover the 65-year-old, who had slipped and fallen into the water.
She was taken to Wellington Hospital, where she spent the night after being treated for hypothermia.
St John Ambulance said it was no busier than a usual Saturday night, with most incidents relatively minor.
A handful of children were treated on-site or at hospitals for fireworks-related injuries.
The SPCA received no reports of seriously injured animals but executive director Bob Kerridge said there had been a spike in the number of missing pets.
"A lot of people are still looking for their animals and sometimes it takes two or three days for them to report it, but certainly there is a significant increase in those, and that's always a concern.''
Mr Kerridge said many missing animals got injured because they were running in fright.
He reiterated the SPCA's call for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public.
The problem was not just with Guy Fawkes night but the prolonged period during which people let off fireworks _ from the time they went on sale through to the new year.
"Why do we celebrate this ridiculous time anyway? Why do we use this as an excuse to sell fireworks to the public, and why should we?
"There are plenty of better things to celebrate with public displays, which we're all in favour of.''
The Coastguard investigated a number of reported flare sightings last night, all of which turned out to be fireworks.
Acting duty officer Nikki Latham said there was an increase in flare sightings around Guy Fawkes night every year.
"Obviously people report them in good faith and we do investigate each sighting.''
Inquiries determined all the sightings last night were of fireworks on land, and no Coastguard response was required.
