Coalition wants smoking in parks to be stubbed out

Urging councils to adopt smokefree policies in parks is among the goals of a newly-formed coalition.
The Wairarapa Smokefree Network, which comprises several agencies and met for the first time on August 14, is keen to step up efforts to stub out smoking in playgrounds and public spaces.
"Councils have been asked to declare their parks smokefree in the past and now we'd like to renew that appeal and see them make it happen," Wairarapa District Health Board smokefree co-ordinator Linda Spence said.
The group wants councils to adopt "educative" smokefree policies in parks which do not ban smoking but encourage users not to.
Kristen Foley, central region smokefree co-ordinator for Regional Public Health, said he had been calling for Wairarapa councils to pick up the scheme for the past four years.
"Really, it's all about the children. Bringing in these policies would reduce the amount of second-hand smoke around children and encourage parents to be role models.
"Before Upper Hutt adopted the policy a few years ago, 75 per cent of people, including smokers, said they were for it. Recent research has shown there are now less people smoking in those parks.
"There had been a bit of confusion with some councils who thought we were asking for an outright ban in parks. Really, we just want to create smokefree cultures there and de-normalise tobacco for children."
Mr Foley, who addressed members at the network meeting, said the South Wairarapa District Council had adopted educative policies in three of its parks.
"We also made a presentation to the Masterton District Council recently and they received it really well. This is a movement that's happening nationally and I think it would be in Wairarapa's interest to follow the same road other councils have taken."
Wairarapa Public Health manager and network member Debi Lodge-Schnellenberg said educative policies paved the way for total smoking bans in parks, which she eventually wanted.
"If you think of how society's changed over the past 20 years, people no longer smoke in restaurants, offices, airplanes and cinemas when they once did.
"It takes a long time for behaviour to change and we can help that along by educating people.
"There's been a real progression in the last three years and that's been awesome to see."
Agencies represented in the network included the Wairarapa District Health Board, Primary Health Organisation, Whaiora Whanui, Cancer Society Wairarapa, National Heart Foundation and Sport Wairarapa.