Cracker sales close shop

Rampant demand for fireworks stripped the shelves of a specialist pop-up shop in Masterton yesterday.

Bad Boy Fireworks had been selling only fireworks out of a former engineer's premises neighbouring Countdown Supermarket on Dixon St.

The temporary store was forced to shut up shop early yesterday after a cracker of a sales run ahead of Guy Fawkes celebrations tonight with staff leaving a "see you next year" sign on the door for disappointed customers.

The Auckland-based Boom Brothers also ran a pop-up shop out of a site further south on Dixon St, and shop worker Edwin Quinney said brisk trade had forced a restock at the shop yesterday afternoon.

He said another staff member who had worked Friday and Saturday had turned away quite a few prospective customers who were underage.

"I risk a fine as well as Boom Brothers if we sell to underagers, so we have to be really careful," he said.

Mr Quinney said it was the first time Boom Brothers had opened a Wairarapa pop-up operation and he was considering staying open until midnight to maximise sales.

Most of the fireworks sold at Boom Brothers are in packs such as Armageddon Assortment and includes a $200 pack called Asylum that had been popular at the Masterton store.

Department of Labour spokesman Mark Smith said the government agency monitors the retail sale of approved fireworks, which can be sold only from November 2 to 5.

Mr Smith said buyers must be aged 18 or older and had to produce proof of age on request. He was not aware of sales breaches or any enforcement action in Wairarapa.