‘Burned the hill down’: billionaire’s runaway fireworks spark New Zealand furore

Neighbours furious after firefighters had to be called to Redemption Song, owned by Empire State building magnate Tony Malkin

Residents of a New Zealand town are calling for a ban on private fireworks after a display by a New York billionaire set off a blaze on New Year's Eve.

Ten minutes into the new year, firefighters were called to fight multiple grass fires at the property of Tony Malkin - chief executive of the entity that owns the Empire State building - after an extravagant private fireworks display went awry near Queenstown in Central Otago.