Rotorua Lakes Council facilities going totally smoke-free

With the New Zealand Government committed to a goal of a smokefree (auahi kore) nation by 2025, Rotorua Lakes Council is one of more than 20 councils which have smokefree outdoor spaces policies, encouraging people to not smoke in public parks.

In Rotorua, the auahi kore policy is seeing the removal of designated smoking areas from Council facilities to make them totally auahi kore – smokefree.

The policy already covers all children’s playgrounds, the Redwoods area of Whakarewarewa forest, part of Kuirau Park (where Rotary markets are held), childcare centres, sports facilities, public toilets and some other areas. Council has previously signalled that over time the areas covered by the open spaces smokefree policy will be extended.

Many Council facilities – the library, council nursery, Destination Rotorua Marketing (DRM), the wastewater treatment plant, City Focus, the Redwoods, council transfer stations and some parks – are already totally auahi kore.

During the year the policy will be rolled out to the Council’s iSite, museum, Aquatic Centre, Castlecorp, crematorium, recycling centre and landfill area.

New smokefree zones, which apply to the public as well as council staff, are now in place at the council’s Civic Centre (Council’s main office building) and the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.

The zones include the footpaths around these buildings, the council carpark on Arawa Street and the band rotunda and Te Rununga Tearooms in the nearby Government Gardens.

Rotorua Lakes Council People and Capability Manager, Richard Bird explains “signage will be going up around the new smokefree areas to let the public know they’re entering a smokefree zone and we are asking that the public respect these zones.

“The aim is for all Council facilities to be completely smokefree by the end of the year.

“This change to our auahi kore – smokefree policy for our facilities aligns with the open spaces policy, as well as being part of an ongoing internal health and wellbeing initiative.”

Support is being provided for smokers on staff who decide to use the change as an opportunity to quit.

2nd November 2013 - VICTORIA BANS SMOKING AT SPORTING VENUES, PLAYGROUNDS, SKATE PARKS AND POOLS 

30th July 2013 - AUCKLAND COUNCIL APPROVES NEW SMOKE-FREE POLICY

13th April 2011 - AUCKLAND REGIONAL PARKS GO SMOKE-FREE