Otaki TodayŌtaki ward councillor Shelly Warwick has angered neighbours after fireworks were repeatedly let off at her property recently.
Three neighbours in Waitohu Valley Road have approached Ōtaki Today to say they’re fed up with the fireworks that have traumatised their horses and other animals. They say pleas to Shelly – who is a vocal equestrian advocate – to stop the fireworks have been ignored.
Greg and Jacki Bickerton, who run an arabian horse stud, say they expect more from a councillor who is supposed to represent the community.
“She chooses to live in a rural neighbourhood surrounded by horses, cattle, and a purebred arabian horse stud, one of a handful in the country,” Greg says. “But as an elected representative she seems to have no regard for the environment she chooses to live in and the people in it.”
Greg has emailed Kāpiti mayor Janet Holborow, who he says has repeatedly asked the councillor to stop the fireworks, and to apologise, but none of that has happened.
Shelly is unrepentant.
“Every year my family and I celebrate my birthday with fireworks,” she told Ōtaki Today. “We were on my private property doing what several others along my rural road were doing that night and other nights during the fireworks sale period.
“As fireworks is a yearly event that all are aware of, I would hope that all animal owners make appropriate arrangements for their animals during the fireworks sale period.”
That appears not to apply to herself. Another neighbour, Kirsty Williams, says she was trying to calm her horses when fireworks were exploding on Saturday, November 2.
“A dog came into the paddock and began harassing my horses. I managed to catch it and called animal control to take it away.”
She says a couple of days later, she saw it on the Warwick property and recognised it as one of their dogs.
Cr Warwick is chair of the Kāpiti Equestrian Advocacy Group; on the council’s Cycleway, Walkway, Bridleway advisory group; and on the Kāpiti Health Advisory group. As the Ōtaki ward councillor, she also serves on the Ōtaki Community Board.
On the Saturday night, when the first fireworks were let off without warning at the Warwick property, the Bickertons and Kirsty arrived independently at the Warwicks’ gate about 9.30pm. They asked to speak to Shelly to stop the fireworks.
“One guy just told us aggressively to f-off,” Kirsty says. “Then when Shelly finally came out, she dismissed us by saying she has horses, too, and they had no problem.”
After they left, another neighbour, Chris Hughes, also went to the gate, saying his animals were distressed.
“My cow was rushing around like a loon,” he says. “There were fireworks coming towards my property and I’d just had enough. But I was just told to f-off as well.”
After a lull, the fireworks began again about 10.30pm. Both Greg and Kirsty went to their respective paddocks and stayed with their horses until near midnight, when the noise stopped.
The fireworks started again about 9.30 on Sunday morning.
By Tuesday, Greg had a text from Shelly saying there would be more fireworks that night. Greg responded, pleading for it not to happen, but it did.
Chris and Susan Hughes say they try to work with his neighbours.
“If there’s a burn-off someone doesn’t like, we put it out,” Chris says. “But I’m really brassed off with this stuff with Shelly. There were fireworks coming towards my property and I’d just had enough. But I was just told to f-off as well.”
Kirsty says after they were abused at the gate, she feels let down.
“It’s always been a community neighbourhood where people get on with each other. But now I feel really upset. I’m constantly on edge waiting for the next time.”
The dispute comes as a horse spooked by fireworks had to be put down recently in Tauranga. The retired racehorse was caught in a fence and suffered what the owner described as “catastrophic” injuries with its hoof almost severed.
Kāpiti Coast District Council’s own advice on setting off fireworks includes:
• don’t set off fireworks late at night or in a dangerous way.
• let your neighbours know you’re going to let off fireworks, especially if they have pets or outside animals like dogs and horses.
Fireworks aren’t covered by council noise control because they’re explosives. Dangerous use should be reported to the police or fire service.
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