Fewer butts about in Rotorua's open spaces

A year since Rotorua's smoke-free outdoor places policy began and more people visiting parks and playgrounds are "kicking smoking in the butt", according to a survey by Toi Te Ora Public Health.
The Rotorua District Council installed signs at playgrounds and around The Redwoods in December last year asking people not to smoke in those areas.
Results from the latest cigarette butt count in the smoke-free locations show a 60 per cent drop in the number of butts found after just one year from when the policy went into force.
The Redwoods Gift Shop and Visitor Centre manager Julianne Wilkinson said the results demonstrated the community was behind the changes and people were refraining from smoking in areas covered by the policy.
"It's proving a huge success and there's no doubt these places are now safer and healthier locations for our young people than in the past.
"The council launched its smoke-free outdoor places policy aiming for non-smoking to become the norm, while at the same time seeking to make the district a cleaner and healthier place to live.
"The 60 per cent drop is a reflection on the fantastic work council teams have done in implementing the policy, as well as great support from the community." As part of the survey, cigarette butts were picked up from 12 local parks, including 10 neighbourhood playgrounds, Kuirau Park, Hannah's Bay Reserve and around the Redwoods Visitor Centre and the count compared with a year ago.
More than 70 spaces around the district became smoke-free on December 20 last year, including Lake Rotorua's Volcanic Playground, Kuirau Park, Hannah's Bay, the Aquatic Centre, Government Gardens, the Tikitapu (Blue Lake) Reserve, Whangamarino School, Hamurana Reserve, Neil Hunt Park and in the council-owned Tokorangi Triangle, 290ha of the Whakarewarewa Forest which includes the carpark and the Redwoods Information Centre.
A survey was carried out in December last to find out if local residents agreed with the smoking ban.
Toi Te Ora Public Health staff surveyed locals to gauge their opinions on the policy and found 85 per cent of people (425 residents) thought it was a good idea, 7 per cent disagreed with it and 8 per cent were unsure.
Of those surveyed, one-third were smokers, 43 per cent were Maori, 42 per cent were New Zealand European and 61 per cent said they regularly cared for children aged 16 and under.
The council's smoke-free outdoors initiative has been supported by Health Rotorua PHO, Toi Te Ora Public Health and the Health Sponsorship Council.