Waiheke Island. Photo: NZ HeraldA New Year fireworks event on Waiheke has been cancelled after residents feared the display would end in disaster for the drought-stricken island near Auckland. Niemann said the rural fire officer for Waiheke had told her the fireworks event was a "controlled activity" despite the total fire ban. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman confirmed to the Herald that a total fire ban was in place on Waiheke Island. Currently, fire permits for Waiheke Island are issued by Auckland Council, but pyrotechnics display permits are issued by WorkSafe.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 31, 2017 05:03 UTC