Northland campground declares smoke-free status

Russell's Top 10 Holiday Park will go smoke-free on May 31, the first in the Top 10 group and possibly the first commercial campground in the country to do so. Photo / iStock

A Northland holiday park will be one of the first in New Zealand to banish smoking from its grounds.

Russell's Top 10 Holiday Park will go smoke-free on May 31, the first in the Top 10 group and possibly the first commercial campground in the country to do so.

Most campgrounds ban smoking in cabins and the communal areas such as kitchens but few have taken the next step.

Manager Becky Tilton said most feedback so far had been positive. A few campers were unhappy and one said he would go elsewhere, but that was likely to be offset by others choosing Russell Top 10 for its smoke-free status.

Russell Top 10 has been managed by Australian family business Next Generation Holiday Parks since late last year. Chief executive Daniel Tilton said feedback showed guests were strongly in favour of the holiday park being smoke-free.

"Our guests want to enjoy our campsites and facilities, such as the camp kitchen and the playground, without themselves and their children being affected by second-hand smoke," Mr Tilton said.

While Russell Top 10 may be a pioneer among commercial campgrounds it is not altogether the first. A number of church-owned campgrounds ban smoking and alcohol. Trust-run Hanmer Springs Forest Camp is also smoke-free. Northern Advocate