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The average age for children to take up smoking is around 14 years of age and even younger for tamariki Maori.
The primary reason for the introduction of smokefree outdoor areas is to provide positive role modelling, especially for young people and children. Role modelling of family/whanau is a powerful predictor of adolescent smoking. Children mirror what they see, so providing smokefree playgrounds will help prevent children and young people from taking up smoking. Our children are the next generation of non smokers.
It is not about "banning" smoking or "demonising" smokers. These policies are all about encouraging responsible adult behaviour and not smoking around children and young people.
Similar initiatives have been and are being implemented around New Zealand.
Smokefree Parks and Playgrounds in Christchurch
 Community and Public Health is a member of Smokefree Canterbury. Smokefree Canterbury worked with the Christchurch City Council in 2009 to implement a plan to make all Christchurch parks, playgrounds, sports grounds and Council events Smokefree.
Research is currently underway to assess the public's attitudes and awareness towards introducing Smokefree outdoor areas in Christchurch. The results will be presented to the Christchurch City Council when the policy is due to be reviewed in 2012.
Selwyn District Council adopts a Smokefree Public Outdoor Areas Policy
In December 2011, the Selwyn District Council chose to adopt a policy to make Selwyn's playgrounds, parks, sports grounds and Council run or sponsored events smoke-free, with the assistance of Smokefree Canterbury. The new policy is not a ban and will not be enforced, but encourages smokers not to light up in playgrounds, parks, sports grounds and at Council events. The new policy will now be implemented, with smoke-free symbols on signage, advertising and other promotions over the next two years. Smokefree Canterbury and the Partnership Health PHO are supporting the initiative with funding of $15,000.
Strategic Policy Analyst Rachel Pugh told the Council in her report that a public survey in Rolleston answered by 163 respondents showed the majority thought public areas should be smoke-free; playgrounds (96%), parks (80%), sports grounds (92%), Council events (88%), outdoor dining (83%), township streets (51%) and all public places (58%).
Smokefree Parks and Playgrounds in Ashburton
In 2006 two young students from Hampstead School took a proactive approach to help protect young people from taking up smoking. They approached the Ashburton District Council and requested that the playground in Friedlander Park be made Smokefree.
On World Smokefree Day on 2007, the Council launched a policy to make the Friedlander Park playground Smokefree. The initiative received good support from the community. In late 2007, the Council declared all playgrounds throughout the district to be Smokefree.
In further developments, the Ashburton District Council’s Smokefree policy has now been extended to cover Council-owned sports grounds from May 2010 including the Ashburton Domain, Argyle Park, Robilliard Park and Digby Park.
Smokefree Playgrounds in South Canterbury
Waimate District declared all their playgrounds Smokefree in May 2009 and are utilising signage developed by the local Community and Public Health smokefree health promoter. The same signage is also currently utilised in some other parts of New Zealand.
Community and Public Health and the Smokefree South Canterbury Committee are happy for others to utilise these pre-tested signs, available to download below. Complete and sign the form 'Agreement for Terms of Use' and send to the Timaru office prior to use.
Progress towards Smokefree Playgrounds for the West Coast
The West Coast Tobacco Free Coalition has been busy recommending the district councils in the region adopt a Smokefree Environments policy. The coalition presented to the Westland District Council’s Strategy sub-committee in August 2011 recommending to the full Council that a Smokefree Environments policy be adopted. This would support the Smokefree signage that was put up in a number of playgrounds in Westland in 2009. This will be an educational policy and apply to Council-owned parks, playgrounds and sports fields.
The Buller District Council also decided in August 2011 to adopt a Smokefree Environments policy folowing public consultation. These councils will work with the West Coast Tobacco Free Coalition to put up further signage in playgrounds and sports fields.
The West Coast Tobacco Free Coalition is making a presentation to the Grey District Council in November 2011 about adopting a Smokefree Environments policy.
Links
Smokefree Councils
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