HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

18 October 2017

Scott Court is Hutt Valley’s first smokefree town centre

Scott Court in Stokes Valley has become the Hutt Valley’s first smokefree town centre. Hutt City Council officially designated the space smokefree at a Council meeting on 10 October 2017. As well as being the first in the Hutt Valley, Scott Court will become one of the first suburban shopping areas across the country thanks to Hutt City Council’s Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says “Making Scott Court smokefree is another step Hutt City Council is taking towards the Government’s goal of becoming smokefree by 2025. Council is taking a leadership role in the community’s health and wellbeing by having a policy that supports smokers to quit while raising a smokefree generation.”

Children ‘do as they see’ so we want to make smoking less normal and visible, smokefree places help us achieve this. Smokefree places also support smokers who are trying to quit as the sight and smell of others smoking can make it hard to stay smokefree.

When the policy was extended in 2016, exploring smokefree town centres were identified as the next step towards creating a smokefree Lower Hutt. Stokes Valley was one of the areas chosen as it supports the rejuvenation work Council is doing to coincide with the opening of the Koraunui Stokes Valley Community Hub in October 2017.

Chair of the Youth Council Ellen Jackman, attended the meeting and supports the decision. "The Youth Council fully supports the decision to make Scott Court smokefree. While there is still work needed to put the policy into action, there is a general belief that this change will positively benefit the community and create a safe and family/youth friendly space."

Northern Ward Councillors Gwen McDonald and Leigh Sutton are right behind the change, “We’re proud that Stokes Valley is the first place in Lower Hutt to have a smokefree town centre. It will make Scott Court a more enjoyable place to work and visit which is great for our community.”

Council staff engaged with retailers and businesses about creating a smokefree Scott Court. Several businesses commented that good signage and promotion would be needed to show the area is smokefree.

Over the next nine months, Council staff will focus on shopping centres in the CBD, Jackson Street, Taita, Naenae, Moera and Queen Street, Wainuiomata. These centres have been prioritised as they either have high foot traffic or high rates of smoking.

In 2018/19, Council will explore designating areas in the remaining suburban shopping centres within Lower Hutt as smokefree areas.

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For more information please contact Julie Fairfield, Communications and Engagement Advisor, Healthy Families Lower Hutt,Julie.fairfield@huttcity.govt.nz or 027 403 9566.

Background information – www.huttcity.govt.nz/smokefree

What does the policy cover?

The policy was extended last year and now includes playgrounds and skate parks; outdoor swimming pool complexes; parks and sports grounds; bus shelters; train stations; beaches; outdoor public areas around Council buildings and facilities; Council run and funded events and outdoor pavement dining areas. Council also asked officers to explore designating areas in town centres as smokefree areas.

Who was engaged with?

Bakers Roast, Bottle’O Liquor Shop, Brew’d, Bridget’s Flowers, Country Fried Chicken, Curry to Go, Dairy on Oats Street, Domino’s Pizza, Flair Hairdressing, Fung Wah Takeaways, Hardware Bar, Koraunui Marae, Materials Advisory & Testing Service, NY Court Dairy, Police, Professionals Real Estate, Selig Real Estate, St Vincent De Paul Op Shop , Stokes Valley Bakery, Stokes Valley Barber Shop, Stokes Valley Fish Supply, Stokes Valley Kebabs, Stokes Valley New World, Town & Country and Unichem Stokes Valley Pharmacy

What has been shared with the wider community?

An article ran in the Stokes Valley Times in March/April about smokefree town centres.

Where can I go for support?

Support is available to those that would like to quit. You can contact the Regional Stop Smoking Service on 0800 926 257 or Quitline on 0800 778 778.

Stats and Facts

There is strong public support for increasing smokefree spaces in Lower Hutt. In the Council’s Citizen’s Panel, 90% of respondents supported the city becoming increasingly smokefree, and 86% thought smoking should be banned in areas where children are likely to be. 81% were frustrated when people smoked near them when dining outside at cafes and restaurants.

Smoking is still the greatest single preventable cause of death in New Zealand, causing a quarter of all cancer deaths. Second-hand smoke is also a serious, and an often under estimated, public health issue, especially for children.

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