Photo: Gerard O'BrienStinging public feedback about "anticlimactic" Dunedin New Year’s Eve celebrations has been presented to city councillors set to debate bringing back fireworks. Council staff said feedback from the public was clear — fireworks were an expected part of New Year’s Eve celebrations. They are set to discuss two options — persisting with the status quo or having a fireworks display at Robin Hood Park. One key piece of feedback from the 2025 New Year’s Eve event was it being repeatedly described as anticlimactic, unclear or "ending with nothing". "Public feedback consistently mentioned the lack of fireworks in years where light and laser shows were a feature of celebrations," the council report said.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 07, 2026 01:29 UTC