Smokefree places & enforcement

To help New Zealand reach the smokefree 2025 goal, support and leadership is required from workplaces. We are asking that organisations review current policy and practice and develop a staged process to contribute to achieving a smokefree New Zealand by 2025.

There are many ways that we can work together to create supportive smokefree environments and these are detailed below.  The Smokefree team can assist with:

• writing smokefree policies (and including action related to this in performance appraisals)
• providing smokefree logos and by-line snippets for newsletters,  payslips and orientation packs
• providing a wide range of free smokefree posters and pamphlets for workplaces to access and use at events and in staff packs
• educating smokefree champions in the workplace
• helping workplaces access free smokefree signage

Employers are obligated to provide healthy environments for their staff and clients. By working to progress smokefree workplaces will be contributing to the 2025 goal and at the same time promoting a healthy and safe environment for all. 

Here's more information on how to progress smokefree in the workplace.

There are many things we can do help achieve the Government goal to make New Zealand Smokefree by 2025. One of these is to make more public spaces smokefree. Some of these public places include:

• Central Business Districts
• Parks
• Playgrounds
• Sports grounds

It is important to increase the number of smokefree public spaces as it protects our children as well as supporting those who are on their journey to stop smoking.

In Otago and Southland, our councils have implemented smokefree spaces. See the map linked below to see which smokefree outdoor policies and spaces have been implemented by councils. 

Fresh Air Project - Otago and Southland
This project is about encouraging and supporting hospitality venues to have smokefree outdoor dining areas. Fresh Air Pilots have been done in a number of cities in New Zealand which showed that the majority of customers are supportive of hospitality venues having smokefree outdoor dining and were more likely to visit again.

There are a number of reasons why you should consider making your venue smokefree. These include:

• It protects customers and staff from the harms of second-hand smoke
• It protects our children – Children copy what they see!
• It reduces litter

The Southern DHB can support you and your transition to become a smokefree venue by providing you with:

• Signage
• Support for staff to stop smoking
• Help with how staff can approach customers who smoke in your smokefree area

There are now a number of hospitality venues which are smokefree in Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill. Check out the Fresh Air Project website  to see where smokefree outdoor dining is available in the Otago and Southland region.

Want to make you outdoor dining area smokefree?

Check out this guide which details what it means to be a smokefree hospitality venue. Email us for support with making your outdoor dining area smokefree.  

The purposes of the Smokefree Environments Act 1990 (the Act) are to:

• reduce the exposure of people to second hand smoke and
• regulate the marketing, advertising, and promotion of tobacco so that people are discouraged from using tobacco products, encouraged to stop smoking,  and helped to stay smokefree.

Smokefree Environments Act 1990

Designated staff at Public Health South work on behalf of the Ministry of Health to ensure the legislation is followed.  Smokefree Enforcement Officers visit tobacco retailers, workplaces and licensed premises to remind them of their legal responsibilities and support them to be compliant under the Act.  They are available for any enquiries regarding the laws around smokefree laws.

Smokefree Enforcement Officers contact details.

If you are concerned about any of the following, please get in touch with us:

• selling tobacco products to people under the age of 18 (including online)
• displaying or advertising tobacco products (including online)
• selling single cigarettes or less than 30g of loose tobacco (including online)
• smoking inside workplaces (including work vehicles) or
• smoking inside licensed premises.