Selwyn Council in Canterbury puts children first

An effort to avoid children and young people seeing smokers as role-models has led the Selwyn District Council to adopt a Smokefree Public Outdoor Areas Policy. The policy to make Selwyn’s playgrounds, parks, sports grounds and Council run or sponsored events smoke-free was adopted by the Selwyn District Council at yesterday’s meeting. Click here for more.

Auckland Zoo Case Study

A case study of the experience of Auckland Zoo becoming smokefree can be found here.

Evaluation of Smokefree Policies show positive results

Toi Te Ora Public Health have released evaluation reports on Smokefree Outdoor Spaces policies in Opotiki and Rotorua. Both reports show very positive results such as a reduction in tobacco litter and strong public support. The reports also show promising signs of attitude and behaviour change as a result of policy implementation.

Cigarette Butt Pollution Project (California, USA)

The Cigarette Butt Pollution Project (which is funded by the California Tobacco Related Disease Research Project of the University of California) has been established to examine all the policy options available to eradicate cigarette butt waste from the environment and to advocate for adoption of such policies at the national, state, and local levels.

Smokefree outdoor areas reduce tobacco litter by 60% in one year

A year after the small eastern Bay of Plenty town of Opotiki started its Smokefree Outdoor Spaces policy, there has been a sixty percent drop in the number of cigarette butts collected from public areas.

Smokefree parks get the nod from Rotorua residents

A survey conducted by Toi Te Ora – Public Health in December 2008 shows 85% of people in Rotorua think having a Smokefree outdoor policy is a good idea. A third of the people surveyed were smokers. More...Kapiti Coast welcomes new smokefree era

From 8 December 2008, all Kapiti Coast District Council playgrounds and sports grounds will be smokefree – and it’s all about the kids! Research shows that the more children and young people are exposed to people smoking, the more likely they are to think of smoking as a ‘normal’ activity. Thinking that ‘everyone else is doing it’ increases the likelihood that children and young people will become smokers themselves. In fact, over 80 percent of New Zealanders don’t smoke and smokefree parks will help reflect this. The Kapiti Coast joins a number of other councils in introducing smoking restrictions in areas designed for use by children. More...

New research shows that 90% of NSW residents want smokefree playgrounds, 75% non-smokers want smokefree outdoor dining

The study of more than 1,100 NSW residents, including 170 who smoke, found that almost 90 per cent of both groups supported bans on smoking in children's playgrounds. Three in every four non-smokers and 42 per cent of smokers favoured a ban in outdoor dining areas, according to the research, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. More...

Smokefree Councils Implementation Kit

The Smokefree Councils Implementation Kit: A guide for local health promoters has been developed by the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Health Sponsorship Council (HSC). Its purpose is to guide tobacco control workers, health promoters, smokefree advocates and others through the process of advocating to councils for, and implementing, smokefree outdoor public places. More...
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