Hastings

Background

In November 2007 the Hastings District Council adopted a smokefree policy.  The policy was rolled out in May 2008 with parks, playgrounds and sports grounds in Wairoa, Hastings & Central Hawke’s Bay becoming Smokefree.

Useful links

Policy

Further information

Sue Taaffe
Hawkes Bay PHO
Ground Floor
Staples Rodway Building
Cnr Lyndon Rd and Hastings Street Sth
Hastings
Phone: 06 878 3270

Media and News

LEAD: Lighting up? Not in our back yard!
24 May 2008
KATE NEWTON

The war on smoking has been stepped up a level in Hawke's Bay with parks, playgrounds and sportsgrounds to be declared smokefree by the end of the month.

From May 31, Smokefree Day, lighting up at any of those recreational zones in Hastings, Central Hawke's Bay and Wairoa will be considered taboo, with signs being erected this week.

The action has been backed by the local councils and Napier City Council is adopting a similar stance.

The policy will be community-enforced, with no 'smoking police', as councils are unable to enact bylaws in the interest of community health.  

Hawke's Bay and Chatham Island Smokefree Coalition chairman, Cassino Te Rangi, said the move was part of the organisation's attempt to denormalise smoking.

"Hawke's Bay is unfortunately ranked as the fourth-highest smoking district in New Zealand - we need to make smoking an uncommon sight in our society so our children and teenagers are not influenced to start," Mrs Te Rangi said.

Signs are going up at recreational grounds with messages such as: "Hey big people, we copy what we see ... so keep our playground smokefree."

The coalition comprises 17 organisations including Cancer Society Hawke's Bay, the National Heart Foundation, Eastern Netball, HB Asthma Foundation and Diabetes Hawke's Bay.

Community paediatrician Russell Wills said he was convinced the step was necessary for improving children's health in Hawke's Bay.

"Smokefree parks and playgrounds are a huge step forward for child health.

"Our teenagers take up smoking at very high rates in Hawke's Bay." Dr Wills said. "As a society we need to take every opportunity for children to see that smoking is not a normal thing to do."

Colin Stone, CEO of Sport Hawke's Bay, said he believed the policy would make adults positive role models.

"This is important as evidence indicates children and young adults learn from observing others and tend to follow the behaviour of role models," Mr Stone said.

It is also hoped the initiative will reduce cigarette-related litter and the risk of fire.

Hawke's Bay is not the first region to take such an approach.

In 2005 South Taranaki District Council made public swimming pools, halls and libraries smokefree. South Wairarapa Council also had smokefree playgrounds, and Masterton and Carterton district councils are considering doing the same.

Later this year Queenstown Lakes District Council will decide whether to extend its ban on smoking at playgrounds and swimming pools to include sportsfields.
 
Source: http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3773501&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

Should public places be smoke freee?
31 May 2008

It is Smokefree Day and a number of Hawke's Bay towns have taken up the concept by banning smokers from smoking in all parks, sportsgrounds and play areas throughout the district.

But the new smoke free policy took smokers by surprise and they are not happy about it.

Smokers beware the smoking police are about to tell you to stub it out.

The Hastings District Council has turned all of its public reserves into smoke free zones today.

“I wasn't aware it's smoke free I think it's a good idea though. There's nothing worse than watching a game of rugby and getting smoke blown in your face,” says one park goer.

But Scott Mitchell doesn't think it is a good idea and says the policy wont stop him and others from smoking in public.

“If someone approached me about it.. I'd not get aggressive but I'd certainly say what I wanted to say,” says Mitchell.

“If he's ten foot tall and pretty mean I wouldn't want to go up to him and tell him he can't have a smoke here,” says ex-smoker Rick Carson.

That is where the smoke free policy falls down for the local Council, who won't actually be policing the initiative, instead relying on the public to tell smokers to put it out.

“It could cause some friction? It could, it could but the majority of people are in support of this kind of action,” says Lawrence Yule, Hastings District Mayor.

The Council isn't apologising for targeting smokers saying it is a health issue and the less children see adults smoking the less likely they will smoke too.

Napier City Council is in the process of adopting the smokefree policy too, which will make the entire East Coast area from Wairoa to Waipukurau, New Zealand's first district to ban smoking in public reserves. Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says it is just the beginning of the end for smokers smoking in public places at all.

Source: http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/Story/tabid/209/articleID/57862/cat/41/Default.aspx

World Smokefree Day celebrated in Hawke’s Bay

Hawkes Bay DHB 
Press Release

25 May 2005

World Smokefree Day is celebrated on 31 May, and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s new Auahi Kore Smokefree health promoter, Gevana Dean, says it’s a great day for people to make a smokefree wish.

“Regardless of whether your wish is for a smokefree home or car, it’s worth making the wish …anything is possible.

“In recent years many people have wished for their lives to be smokefree, and thanks to smokefree legislation, this is now largely true. Since 10 December last year, all workplaces, including bars, restaurants and clubs have been smokefree, with schools and early childhood centres smokefree 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

However, it’s not all good news as smoking still kills an estimated 4,700 people annually.

“That’s a lot of mums and dads, aunties and uncles, children and grandparents dying every year. I can’t think of a better reason to wish for a smokefree world,” Gevana said.

Gevana said a range of health providers in Hawke’s Bay had come together to mark World Smokefree Day in Hawke’s Bay. “We’re working with the Heart Foundation, Cancer Society, Asthma Society, Sport Hawkes Bay, Te Kupenga Hauora, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, Choices, the Pacific Island Advisory Group, Heath Protection, Public Health Nurses and Hawke’s Bay Primary Health Organisation.

A number of events are planned, including:

  • The Smokefree Rock Quest, which is on Saturday night from 8-11pm at the Pettigrew.Green Arena Taradale.
  • The Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Hikoi for Health ‘midway motivator’, which is on the 29th of May being held along the Napier pathway from Westshore to Bayview at 9.30am a celebration along Marine Parade ‘Smokefree - Spirit of Napier to the Children’s playgfround’ will see 350 Smokefree balloons released at 9.30am on Tuesday 31 May, in front of the Spirit Of Napier. The balloons will represent the estimated 350 New Zealanders who die from second hand smoke each year.

Napier City Council have declared the stretch of Marine Parade from the Spirit to Napier statue to the children’s playground to be smokefree from 8am – 8pm on World Smokefree Day.

Smokefree balloons will be displayed along the Omahu Road perimeter of Hawke’s Bay Hospital

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board has two smoking cessation advisors, Rangi Barcham and Yvonne Stirling Mohi, who are available to assist anyone in the community wanting to quit smoking. For more information, phone 878 8109 ext. 2473

Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0505/S00193.htm