News Release

21 January 2014

Council facilities going totally smokefree

Designated smoking areas are being removed from Rotorua Lakes Council facilities to make them totally auahi kore – smokefree.

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.

“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,” Rotorua Lakes Council People and Capability Manager, Richard Bird, says.

Similar changes will be implemented at other council facilities throughout the year, Some 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 change will be rolled out to the iSite, museum, Aquatic Centre, Castlecorp, crematorium, recycling centre and landfill with designated smoking areas also to be removed at those sites.

“The aim is for all Council facilities to be completely smokefree by the end of the year,” Mr Bird says.

The government has committed to a goal of a smokefree New Zealand by 2025 and 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 policy 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.

“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,” Mr Bird says.

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

“It’s early days yet but we know that there are at least a few smokers on staff now considering quitting and who have been smoking less since the new zones were put in place at the beginning of the month,” Mr Bird says.

“Response so far has been good with staff at the Civic Centre and performing arts centre being accepting of the change. We’ll be working with staff at our other sites during the course of the year.”

[ENDS]

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