remember, remember.

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Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!


Guy Fawkes Day is held each year in Great Britain as remembrance of the foiled Gunpowder Plot in 1605 when plotters planned to blow up Parliament, but were caught in the act.

As Britain and New Zealand share the same monarchy and common history, Guy Fawkes Day is observed here as well.  Sort of.

The traditional Guy Fawkes celebration happens in autumn and consists of children going door-to-door to collect money for fireworks, impressive public displays, bonfires and effigies of the Guy.

New Zealand's celebration is significantly tame compared to Britain's, with no real connection to the original history it has become just a night for fireworks.


In New Zealand fireworks are only available for purchase from November 2-5. Sparklers can only be sold in packs with other fireworks and the selection of what is available to buy is heavily restricted. A multitude of establishments get in on the fireworks madness, they can be purchased at box stores, butchers, and even delivered with your pizza.

The week surrounding Guy Fawkes it is common to hear fireworks being set off. In November we are just entering into the summer months so it doesn't get dark til 8.30. The police do ask people to cease celebrations after 10.30, it is not uncommon for fireworks to be let off as late as midnight.

The official city public display is held on the Saturday following Guy Fawkes. The fireworks are set off from a platform in the middle of the ocean near the Wellington Waterfront. This location provides multiple vantage points from all around the city.

There are no effigies, nor bonfires.

Wellington City Council touts a carnival at Waitangi Park and food trucks along the waterfront prior to the firework display, but we found both attractions to be non-events.  

Eating potato on a stick

The carnival was the saddest I have ever seen. The whole carnival barely took up 1/3 of the space at Waitangi Park. There were just six "rides" one of which was a bouncy castle. Tickets ranged in price from $8.50 per person, per ride for the ferris wheel to $3.50 for the bouncy castle.

Pictured: Saddest carnival ever

Food trucks were dotted along the waterfront, but there didn't seem to be many people out in spite of the sunny day.

Overall we found the lack of a central hub for the day's festivities to be a bit depressing. We imagined that we could make a whole day out of it, but we barely found enough to fill 30 minutes. Thankfully there was another, unrelated event on that was able to keep us entertained.

Once 9pm rolled around the waterfront was lined with spectators. Because there are so many vantage points the crowd was able to spread out. The Sky Show lasts just 15 minutes. The fireworks are set to a soundtrack, but it is only available over a local radio station.

Because Wellington is windy the firework ash blows right into the crowd, giving spectators an experience unlike any other. Where else can you both see, hear, and smell the fireworks? I highly recommend wearing a jacket and hat as it does
get quite cold near the water at night.  


Once the fireworks end the masses trudge back up into the city. We were worried about over-crowding on the bus, but were pleased to find the city had it covered. At Courtenay Place they had empty buses waiting so people at the edge of the city wouldn't have to endure full buses passing them by. We caught our bus at 9.38 and were home by 10.

Firework smoke clouds the carnival

Guy Fawkes wasn't really what I expected and I hope to some day experience it in London. In the meantime, we plan to spend future Guy Fawkes Days in the Eastern Suburbs. Our church hosts a small get-together for the kids before dark and we have heard that the city's fireworks are viewable from Shelly Bay. Both these sound like much more attractive options than a lack-luster day downtown.

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