A New Brighton resident says she was left angry after spending hours cleaning the beach following last night’s council-run fireworks display, describing the aftermath as “a war zone.”

Danette Wereta told chrislynchmedia.com the beach was littered with rubbish including food scraps, wrappers, broken glass, foil, and even used condoms.

“There was only one person from the council on site, and he told me he was just there to empty the bins – which were already overflowing.

No contractors had been engaged to clean the beach,” she said.

“I lodged a complaint with the call centre, but the tide has already come in, and it will keep coming – pulling plastic, metal, and toxic waste straight into the sea.”

Wereta said the problem went beyond litter, and posed an immediate threat to native wildlife.

“I watched black-backed gulls foraging through the rubbish, pecking at debris, ingesting plastic and foil. This is their home too. New Brighton is rich in wildlife, but last night, their habitat was turned into a dumping ground.”

She said fireworks were not harmless fun and had serious environmental consequences.

 

“The explosions release toxic chemicals – heavy metals like barium, aluminium, and strontium – into our air and waterways. These pollutants don’t just vanish. They contaminate the ocean and poison the very environment we say we treasure.”

She also spoke about the harm caused to animals living alongside residents on the east side of Christchurch.

“My own dog is so distressed by the noise and vibrations that I paid $160 just to have him sedated. Today, he is still shaking and refusing to eat. He is not alone. So many animals suffer like this every year, and their guardians are left to manage the fallout.”

Wereta said she believed New Brighton beach was not an appropriate venue for fireworks.

“Our beach is not a blank canvas for destruction. It is a living, breathing ecosystem, and it deserves respect.”

Last year, Wereta contacted city councillors and asked them to consider drone displays as an alternative, but was told they were too expensive.

“So we are paying the price in pollution, harm, and cruelty,  just to save a few dollars.”

The Christchurch City Council spokesperson said “Our litter clean up team started at 9.30 this morning.

“Events staff coordinated with the Council waste team and Parks to have all the public rubbish bins around the pier emptied early this morning, which was all done.

Approximately 30,000 viewed the fireworks and everything ran very smoothly.”