Wellington hospitality venues in to become smoke and vape-free

Hospitality venues in Wellington with outdoor dining on Wellington City Council land will become smoke and vape-free from 1st March 2023.

In support of Smokefree Aotearoa 2025, the Council is asking Wellingtonians to clear the air in their favourite pubs, bars, restaurants and other venues.

This change does not affect smoking areas on private land like balconies, backyard dining areas, rooftops or outdoor dining that is not on Council-owned land. 

These changes to hospitality venues add to the list of areas already smoke and vape-free in Wellington City, which includes beaches, playgrounds, skate parks, sportsfields, bus stops, Waitangi, Midland and Truby King Parks, the Botanic Garden, Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Bolton Street Cemetery, Te Ngākau Civic Square, Grey Street, Wellington Zoo and Zealandia, and entrances to all Council buildings including libraries and swimming pools.

Across New Zealand, about 8% of the population smokes and another 8% vapes – the goal is to reduce this to less than 5% of the population.

Advising that this change is showing Wellington’s contribution to a nationwide movement, Wellington City Council Public Health Group Manager, Helen Jones stated “Wellingtonians are considerate people who respect the smoke-free and vape-free areas, and these changes to dining and hospo areas reaffirms the Council’s commitment to Smokefree Aotearoa 2025.

“Our approach is always about positively encouraging smoke-free and vape-free areas, rather than punishing people for smoking or vaping. We will continue to take an educational approach about the physical, social and environmental benefits of going smokefree and vapefree.

“We understand this is a big change for both businesses and their customers, so we are providing them with any support or resources they may need to prepare for this change in March 2023.

“This change was originally set to start in July 2022, but with businesses still recovering from the aftermath of COVID-19, Council decided to hold off enforcing this change until 1 March 2023. This campaign over the busy summer months will help prepare businesses and Wellingtonians for this behaviour change.”

These changes are part of the Trading and Events in Public Places Policy, which was passed by Council in November 2021.

For more information on smoke and vape-free changes in the capital visit wellington.govt.nz/smokefree.