Taupō's Big Bang New Year's Eve fireworks cancelled after lake ban

Taupō residents will have to make other plans this New Year’s Eve after the cancellation of the town’s annual Big Bang fireworks display.

A change in protocols from the lake’s owner means the show may never return.

Taupō District Council issued a statement last month citing budget constraints and “environmental concerns” as the primary reasons for the cancellation.

Last year’s display resulted in fireworks rubbish entering the lake, raising questions about whether it breached the environmental protocols in place at the time by the lake’s owner, Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.

Until this year the trust board had protocols for using fireworks on or near Taupō waterways because of potential environmental impacts.

Protocols required operators to notify the board 30 working days before using fireworks or pyrotechnic effects, and the organisation was able to decline any requests.

Operators were also required to use environmentally friendly fireworks at all times.

A major protocol stated that “spent casings, large floating fragments and waste/rubbish must be collected and disposed of on land to minimise environmental impact”.

Collected rubbish was to be separated into recyclable, compostable and landfill components and disposed of responsibly.

That didn’t happen in 2025.

What happened last year?

A Taupō District Council spokesperson said post-fireworks monitoring done by the trust board found firework casings and associated packaging entered the lake during last year’s event.

Wind pushed debris towards the southwestern area of the lake.

The Waikato Herald asked the council whether this breached environmental protocols, given the casings and associated debris were not collected and disposed of on land.

The council said the displays were done within protocol.

“[The council] acknowledges the requirements set out in the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board Environmental Protocols,” the council spokesperson said.

“[The council] believes its New Year’s Eve fireworks displays have been conducted in accordance with those protocols and has continually sought to improve the delivery of the event.

“We do not have anything further to add at this time.”

Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board

The Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board is the fee simple title holder of Lake Taupō, most of its tributaries and the Waikato Awa up to Te Toka a Tia. This grouping of lake and rivers is known as Taupō Waters.

Under the board’s trust deed, Taupō Waters are available to the public for recreation, but any business, commercial or non-profit organisations wanting to hold events near the lake must apply for a licence to do so.

The process reassures the board the event being held is in accordance with the law and complies with cultural and environmental protocols.

Failure to comply means the licence will be revoked or not renewed.

Change in protocols

The trust board’s protocols recently changed and now forbid the use of fireworks on, over or near Taupō Waters.

The change in protocols occurred without public notice.

In a document on the trust board’s website it says fireworks and pyrotechnic effects are “not an approved activity, and will not be authorised by the Trust Board”.

“This position reflects the environmental impacts associated with fireworks, including debris, waste, and contaminants entering Taupō Waters and surrounding environments.”

Under the new protocols, fireworks displays are banned, meaning the lake-based Big Bang Fireworks may never return.

Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board declined to comment when approached.

Cost of 2025 display

Budget constraints were also cited as a reason for the cancellation, so the council was asked about the cost of the event.

A council spokesperson said delivering the lake-based fireworks display cost about $53,000, including $40,000 for the fireworks.

“Last year the delivery costs were $13,447.11.”

More than half was for traffic management costs, while the rest was for event monitoring, event delivery, security, portaloos, permit costs, and advertising.

In a statement, the council said there would “likely” be other community events cancelled or reduced as they looked into reducing council spending.

“These will need to happen as we move towards trying to deliver council activities in a rates-capped environment.”

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has issued an edict saying that from 2029, councils could not raise rates beyond an average of 4% a year.

Watts said it was time for councils to reel in spending and to focus on delivering basic services.

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.