Hamilton smoke-free policy commits to New Zealand 2025 goal

Garden Place and other Hamilton areas are set to go smoke-free after city councillors voted for a policy to ban smoking across a range of public spaces at a meeting this month.

The Smoke-Free Environment Policy, which takes effect immediately, will see a staged approach towards the stated smoke-free zones with the final stages ideally resulting in Hamilton becoming completely smoke-free.

The first stage of the smoke-free policy prohibits smoking in Civic Square, Hamilton Gardens, Garden Place and the Hamilton Transport Centre.

Cancer Society health promotion manager Melanie Desmarais said at a Strategy and Policy meeting earlier in the week that a focus on the transport hub would be ideal.

“I can see the need where there are problem areas for stronger bylaws – that for us is the transport centre and Garden Place,” she said.

Areas within 10 metres of all city council playgrounds and council-owned or operated buildings have also been included in the policy, along with Pembroke St (from the corner of Selwyn St to Ohaupo Rd) and Selwyn St around the Waikato Hospital.

A request from Councillor Daphne Bell that all events run or sponsored by council be required to be smoke-free was agreed on by council and included in the Smoke-Free Environment Policy.

The policy will use an educative, self-policing approach with the public being made aware of and educated about the smoke-free areas through signage and communication.

The council have arranged to work alongside smoke-free advocacy groups, including the Cancer Society and Waikato DHB, to introduce appropriate signage to the agreed areas as well as educating the public about the policy.

The policy will be monitored over the next six months with the hope to extend the policy to other parts of the city, including bus shelters and parks and reserves.

Strategy and Policy Committee chairperson Maria Westphal said the council has a leadership role in the city to promote healthy smoke-free places where people can avoid being exposed to the dangers of second-hand smoke.

“The Government has set a goal of a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025. It’s important Hamilton steps up and does what it can to work towards this, promoting healthy smoke-free environments for all and particularly for our children.

“Our new policy is a step in the right direction, and with the city’s smoke-free advocacy umbrella group CHANCES we will monitor over the next six months how the policy is working, with a view to extending the policy to other areas of the city,” Councillor Westphal said.