If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
The vocabulary list is now first, so that you can check the meanings of the words before you listen.
Vocabulary
ban – to say that something must not be done
announce – to officially tell people something, especially a plan or decision
plot – in this context, a secret plan
be injured – to be hurt, especially in an accident or an attack
scared – frightened, afraid
abuse – in this context, the use of something in a way that it should not be used
misuse – use badly or wrongly. Note the prefix mis – bad or badly, wrong or wrongly
outgrow – to grow bigger or faster than something
retail – the selling of goods to the public, usually through shops
ballot – in this context, a ballot is like a draw, when something is chosen by chance
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What do some people do on Guy Fawkes Night?
- What would the NZ First bill ban?
- Where and when did Guy Fawkes Night originate?
- Why has Guy Fawkes Night become less popular in New Zealand?
- How many Fire and Emergency callouts were there on 5 November?
- What creatures get particularly frightened by fireworks?
- If the bill is passed, what will be allowed to continue?
- Which members’ bills are debated in Parliament?
Text
Last Wednesday was Guy Fawkes Night when some people let off fireworks at home or out with friends. However, last Tuesday NZ First announced that it was introducing a bill to ban the public sale and use of fireworks.
Guy Fawkes Night originated in Britain where people let off fireworks to remember the failure of the plot to kill King James 1st, in 1605. It has become less popular in New Zealand over the past few decades, partly because there have often been accidents and fires caused by fireworks. This year, for example, Fire and Emergency NZ were called out to 30 firework-related fires around the country before 5 November, and then on 5 November there were another 50 callouts. This is a significant extra amount of work for firefighters. In one case, some people aimed fireworks at firefighters, which was very dangerous, but fortunately no-one was injured. Pets, farm animals, and birds get particularly frightened by the loud noise of fireworks and can injure themselves or die as they try to run away. For instance, this year two pet dogs died after being scared by the noise, running out onto a road and being hit by cars.
Winston Peters, leader of the NZ First party, said that “enough is enough” and that “the abuse and misuse of fireworks has far outgrown any of the benefits”. The party has introduced a member’s bill, called the Fireworks Prohibition Legislation Bill, to stop the retail sale, manufacture, and importation of fireworks for private use, although public displays would be allowed to continue.
Member’s bills can be introduced by any Member of Parliament who is not a Minister. They are entered into a ballot and if they are selected, they are debated by Parliament. The ballot is organised by giving the bills a number, and then all the numbers are put in an old biscuit tin. Every second week some numbers are drawn from the biscuit tin, and those bills are debated in Parliament and sometimes become law. This means that the bill to ban fireworks may or may not be drawn in the ballot, so it may or may not become law.
If you want to know more about Guy Fawkes in New Zealand, listen to Guy Fawkes Night from 2024.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. What do some people do on Guy Fawkes Night?
Let off fireworks at home or out with friends
b. What would the NZ First bill ban?
The public sale and use of fireworks
c. Where and when did Guy Fawkes Night originate?
In Britain; 1605
d. Why has Guy Fawkes Night become less popular in New Zealand?
Partly because there have often been accidents and fires caused by fireworks
e. How many Fire and Emergency callouts were there on 5 November?
50
f. What creatures get particularly frightened by fireworks?
Pets, farm animals, and birds
g. If the bill is passed, what will be allowed to continue?
Public fireworks displays
h. Which members’ bills are debated in Parliament?
The bills which are drawn in the ballot.