Council smoking policy not a ban

Western Bay of Plenty District Council its new policy to discourage smoking in public is not a ban and it is not expecting backlash

29 October 2009
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has no intention of taking any action against people for smoking in public spaces.

It has introduced a new policy to discourage smoking in public areas that covers parks, playgrounds, reserves, halls, skate parks, sports fields and beaches.

While 23 local bodies in New Zealand already have adopted smokefree policies, the Western Bay District Council is only the third to include beaches under its policy.

Mayor Ross Paterson says it is a strong affirmation by council to support a smokefree environment and to empower people to ask someone who is smoking to please stop. He says people who do not smoke are not happy with having to put up with passive smoke.

Mr Paterson says the move is not a ban and he is not expecting any sort of backlash.

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