More Rotorua outdoor spaces to become smokefree

Eat Streat establishments will be smokefree, even outdoors, from January. Photo/File

Eat Streat business owners are to meet with Rotorua Lakes Council and Toi Te Ora Public Health staff in preparation for phase two of the city's extended smokefree outdoor spaces policy.

The phase two rollout begins in January and sees the introduction of the smokefree outdoor spaces policy at outdoor pavement eating places, Eat Streat, markets held in the inner city and entrances and exits to public buildings and facilities used by the public.

Eat Streat's Ambrosia owner Kris Beehre said he was not looking forward to policing the new policy.

He said quite a few smokers still frequented Ambrosia and tended to congregate in one area to smoke, but the premises was big enough that if passive smoke was bothering other patrons, they could move to another area.

The council's extended smokefree policy was approved in 2016 and phase one introduced earlier this year.

Council strategic development manager of sustainability and social development Rosemary Viskovic said public response to phase one of the "Let's clear the air" campaign had been positive.

Phase one included bus stops, youth spaces, skate parks and council-controlled reserves and parks.

"Most people who smoke are very considerate and don't smoke where it can negatively impact others," Viskovic said.

"Council did undertake some extra promotion to help visitors on tour buses visiting the Redwoods to understand the area is auahi kore and has been smokefree since 2008.

"Numerous sports clubs that use reserves have also come on board and council has provided them with signage to promote the message."

She said the council wanted to remind people and businesses that from New Year's Day, the smokefree zones would be extended to outdoor eating areas and inner city markets.

"We are talking with businesses about how we can support them in promoting the smokefree initiative.

"Businesses know their customers and therefore are in the best place to know the smoking behaviour of their patrons."

Rotorua Lakes Council became one of the first councils to make local parks and playgrounds smokefree.

"As we know, good things take time and we are entering a new phase which will provide learnings for us as we aim to become a smokefree destination by the national ambition of 2015," Viskovic said.