Maz

Well the Hallowe'en shops are filling up here and getting ready to open in September.

Is Hallowe'en a big thing in NZ? Do kids dress up and go trick-or-treating?

Ta...

teambwr47

I know its maybe just a British thing but is there a Guy Fawkes (Fireworks) night here and if so, is it generally people buy there own or are there displays?

My oldests birthday is the 6th Nov and she's used to her birthday involving fireworks at some stage, be it a home display or going to a good public one.

If theres no Guy Fawkes night then so be it..........

dlmckay

Not a big thing - certainly not as big as in the US.

Personally, I HATE dragging small children around at dusk trying to identify the houses that like it and those that don't.

I had a Hallowe'en party at home - frightened them all silly with Michael Jackson's Thriller on video, played bobbing for apples, told spooky stories etc. They were around 4-7 in age, so that was cool enough for them.

They do have a fireworks night on Nov 5th and the pleasant thing is (as an animal owner) that the sales are restricted to about a week beforehand.

I recommend the Taupaki School Gala fireworks for those out west....

TeamEmbo

Been told you can get fireworks, box of, for home displays, but that there impressively dull. Worryingly you can get hand held rocket/fountain things for the kids???? Oh, and sparklers.

Maybe as it's her first birthday here you should try asking around at school or neighbours to see what's the norm round where you are to celebrate a kids birthday and give her a Kiwi treat.

minky

From memory I think we saw some bits in the shops last year. Did not have anyone knocking for trick or treat. As for Nov 5 different parts of Auckland have there own displays we went to one run by The Lions last year and it was a good display.

happynz

The big red shed sells things like costumes and plastic jack 'o' lantern buckets. I've never seen a trick-or-treater though.

teambwr47

Good.....one even happier girl

kiwi_child

We never celebrated Halloween in NZ and I was very surprised to see how it's become a bit of a tradition in OZ. In NZ we always had Guy Fawkes night on November 5th. Unfortuantely due to pressue put on government over the years, the days of a decent Guy Fawkes at home with family and friends is now either a thing of the past or a tame shadow of what it once was.

The problem with some fireworks was more to do with kids who didn't respect their potential to burn and damage skin etc. I and my friends grew up having a great time around that time fo the year, without incident. A public display while no doubt enjoyable (when heaps of drunken and bored youth don't attend) does in no way compensate for the small, fun, gatherings of families and friends IMHO.

Liz & Co

Unfortunately, kids can buy fireworks from many outlets and very young children let them off from their hands. Many children get hurt - including my son, last year.

If you live in, or around, Tauranga, then the Blue Chip Stadium (Speedway) is the best place for a firework display - knocked my socks off last year!!

Batty

We go to Waikaraka speedway in Auckland - they have a fantastic display too.

Maz, coming from the country that 'invented' Halloween I have to say I miss it. D'you know you actually get a public holiday for Halloween in Ireland? The best bits when we were kids were all the ghost stories that would be told by the old people, in candlelight - absolutely delicious fear

Bellasmum

Liz I would be challenging any retailer selling fireworks to children.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/libra...1&softpage=DOC

Display and sale of fireworks

(1)Fireworks may be displayed for retail sale or sold by a retailer during the period beginning on [2 November] and ending at the close of 5 November in each year.
(2)Fireworks may be sold by a retailer at other times only under a written approval issued by the Authority under regulation 7.
(3)A retailer must not sell fireworks to a person aged under [18 years].
(4)A retailer must not sell any fireworks unless a test certificate for those fireworks that complies with regulation 10 has been issued.
[(5)A retailer must not sell a [[retail fireworks package]] containing any firework referred to in regulation 4(2).]
[(6)A retailer must not sell sparklers unless they are contained in a retail fireworks package.]

brussels_sprout

The fireworks in Kiwi shops are cr** apparaently, To get the fireworks that more ressemble small arms "whumps",the sort that shake the windows, you can import them directly from China, that's what the Kiwis from work seem to do, anyway, will get the URL, if anyone is interested ................., or do a google search

SarahB

Yes, kids go trick and treating here, dress up and have parties.

For anyone in this area there is a good firework display in Clevedon village each year. Everyone takes picnics and meets up with friends... its a good evening out.

Liz & Co

The Warehouse advertise selling fireworks to children age 14 and over - www.bigboom.co.nz

teambwr47

Thats sounds like the one then as we hope to be living in Clevedon area soon....