Plans to extend smoke-free area

More public spaces in the Hawke's Bay will be made smokefree.

More public spaces in Napier and Hastings will begin to go smoke-free from October under a joint policy being developed by the twin-city councils which will be open to public feedback next month.

The draft joint "Community Smokefree Policy" will be considered for approval by Napier City Council's regulatory committee at a meeting tomorrow and is due to be considered by Hastings District Council before the end of the month.

The policy proposes banning smoking across both council boundaries in all playgrounds, sports grounds, reserves, parks, bus shelters, and within 10m of entranceways to all council-owned buildings and facilities.

The draft policy says it will be "supported by persuasion rather than punitive enforcement".

A report by Napier City Council staff prepared for tomorrow's meeting says while the policy takes a "non-punitive approach ... should specific problems arise (for example, smoking of psychoactive substances in parks), there is an opportunity to address this behaviour".

"Tenants of council-owned buildings will be expected [to] adhere to the policy," the report says.

Public feedback on the draft policy will be sought throughout July.

The consultation process will include an online survey, a written submission form and direct consultation with retailers and hospitality businesses via a workshop.

Council staff will collate and summarise the feedback received during the month, and develop a final policy and implementation plan during August.

The final policy will be presented to the the two councils for approval in September ahead of an implementation plan being initiated in October.

The Napier City Council staff report said the main cost of the policy would be in consultation costs (which are accounted for in existing budgets), signage and installation.

"New signage can be installed in phases, with priority areas being completed first," the report said.

The joint council proposal is supported by the Hawke's Bay District Health Board.

A recent survey commissioned by the DHB showed strong support for public areas being smoke free.

The planned policy builds on the smoke-free sports grounds and playgrounds policy Napier adopted in 2008.