Manukau

1.1 Background

In order to get a major Auckland council to adopt a smokefree public places policy, the Auckland Cancer Society decided to make use of an already existing partnership with the HSC (Health Sponsorship Council).
Manukau and Waitakere Councils were approached simultaneously over the issue and, within a short time, both decided to adopt an educative smokefree policy. The councils have been supporting each other throughout the development and implementation of their respective policies. Manukau and Waitakere City Councils officially passed their policies in September 2008.

2.1 Implementation

Before any formal approach to Manukau City Council was made, the Senior Policy Advisor for Parks was identified as someone who could help. The Cancer Society and HSC worked together to make initial contact and the Senior Policy Advisor became instrumental to the success of the project.

2.1.1 Approach to council

The Senior Policy Advisor was impressed with the evidence presented to him and did some additional research on the topic. He believed there was a strong case for the development of a smokefree policy around Council events, as well as in sports areas, playgrounds and other areas that are used by children and young people. It was agreed that it would be far harder to gain political support for ‘whole of park’ smokefree policies.

The Senior Policy Advisor conducted an internal consultation with Council staff responsible for running events and parks operation, all of whom supported the idea of smokefree public places. He then made an official submission on a smokefree policy to the Council’s Senior Executive Team.

2.1.2 Initial responses

Because the policy would focus on children’s areas, the Senior Executive Team believed gaining public support would not be difficult, and approval was given for the development of an educative policy.

2.1.3 Policy development

The Cancer Society and HSC, who already had a number of publications available on smokefree public places, provided relevant materials to the Senior Policy Advisor to help develop the Manukau policy. A report and policy document was written and provided to councillors prior to a formal presentation. Informal talks with councillors indicated there was support for the policy.

A fifteen minute oral and visual presentation was developed and delivered to councillors at an informal Council meeting. It was highlighted that a smokefree public places policy would be conducive to the Manukau Healthy City programme outcomes. The Counties Manakau DHB and Deputy Mayor of Waitakere City were part of the presentation team.

2.1.4 Policy adoption

Two weeks after the meeting, the smokefree public places policy was officially passed at a formal Manukau City Council meeting.

2.1.5 Budget

Manukau City Council happened to be in the process of overhauling park signage and agreed the smokefree message could easily be incorporated into new signs. This meant it wasn’t necessary to allocate a separate budget to cover smokefree signs.

Promotional and media costs were jointly met by the Cancer Society, HSC and the communications department within Manukau City Council.

2.1.6 Promotion

The Cancer Society employed an external communications company to deliver promotion around the policy as it was decided that a neutral third party would be more effective in dealing with the media. Media coverage was kept to a minimum when the policies were officially passed in the hope that there would be a more significant story at the time councils were ready to officially launch the initiatives. 

The launch of Manukau City Council’s smokefree signage is due to take place in March 2009.  The launch will coincide with ASB Polyfest – a popular annual event in the city showcasing the culture and arts of Pacific and ethnic groups. Schools from around the whole of Auckland attend and it will be held in an area that has both sports fields and playgrounds. The Mayor will launch the smokefree signage while opening Polyfest.

3.1 Evaluation

A working group comprising The Auckland Cancer Society, HSC, and Manukau and Waitakere Councils has been set up. Plans to evaluate the policy are currently being developed by the working group, prior to the official launches of the two councils’ policies.

3.1.1 What worked well

Manakau and Waitakere Councils have supported each other’s efforts in terms of policy development, media and promotion. It is hoped that this cooperative approach will encourage the area’s remaining five local councils to also adopt smokefree policies and will create greater media coverage and community uptake of the project.

The fact that the Cancer Society and HSC have provided ongoing support, particularly around drafting the policy, has been invaluable to the process. The formation of a working group has also meant the continuation of a collaborative and consistent effort from all parties involved.

A major contribution to this project has been having a Council ‘champion’ who has taken some ownership of the project.

3.1.2 What didn’t work so well

Some of the area’s smokefree advocates believed it would have been better to push the Council for a complete smokefree parks policy rather than one that only covered events, sports fields and playgrounds. Resolving this difference caused some initial delay, but eventually it was agreed that the Council’s policy was still a very valuable step.

4.1 Suggestions

The following suggestions come from a key member of Manukau City Council: 

• Find the right person to approach within your council. Come with evidence showing public support for the proposal as this will encourage councils to at least test the idea.
• Persist. If one approach doesn’t work, try another way in. 
• Ongoing assistance throughout the process is always gratefully received by councils. Working with them and providing support will make the process go more smoothly.
• It’s critical to adopt an educative policy rather than a legislative one. This way, ownership of the policy rests with the community which is given the power to go smokefree. 

 

Policy

• Smokefree Areas in Parks Policy, Policy and Activities Committee Meeting, Manukau District Council, 4 September 2008

News

Manukau encourages smoke-free public places
26 September, 2008

Manukau City Council last night adopted a smoke-free areas policy.

The policy aims to encourage people to refrain from smoking in areas used by children - playgrounds, skate parks, stadiums and courts, sports fields and public events.

Portfolio leader for community services, Councillor John Walker, says the council is taking a common sense approach to the policy.

"Our approach is educative - we are requesting that people do not smoke in our parks, particularly in areas where there are children.

"This policy is all about the kids. When they see people around them smoke, they are more likely to believe that smoking is a common or normal activity, and more likely to become smokers themselves."

Waitakere City Council is also introducing a similar policy.

John Loof, Auckland Cancer Society's chief executive, says the society is delighted to be working with both councils as they introduce their smoke-free areas in parks policies.

"It is estimated that about 5000 New Zealanders die from smoking-related illnesses each year. If we can stop just a few of the region's young people from becoming smokers, then we'll have been successful."

Manukau City Council is currently working on the policy's implementation.

ENDS

Note to editors:
Some of the findings of a Counties Manukau DHB report on the Smoking Prevalence Rates Census 2006 are:

• The prevalence of regular smokers in Counties Manukau is 22.1%; this is
  higher than the New Zealand prevalence of 20.7%.
• Higher rates of smoking are observed among Maori (46.8%) and Pacific peoples (30.3%) in Counties Manukau compared to other ethnicities.
• The prevalence of ex-smokers in Counties Manukau is 17.0%, is lower than the national prevalence of ex-smokers, 22.1%.
• Community Views: 
• Recent data gathered from the 2007 HSC Adult Smoke-free/Auahi Kore monitor show:
  • Three-quarters of respondents believed it was 'not at all' acceptable to smoke at outdoor children's playgrounds (76.4 percent).
  • Around 70 percent of respondents agreeing with the statement 'Smoking should be banned in all outdoor public places that children are likely to go' (51.4 percent strongly agreed, 18 percent slightly agreed).

Source: http://www.manukau.govt.nz/default.aspx?id=9799

Smokefree push in kids' zones
Thursday Oct 02, 2008
By Vaimoana Tapaleao

Parks, sports fields, skate parks and playgrounds in Manukau will soon be smokefree zones - sort of.

A new policy adopted by the city council will lead to No Smoking signs being put up in areas and at events where children will be, discouraging anyone from using tobacco there.

Smokers can still light up if no children are around.

But the move to get smokers kicking the habit at parks will not be compulsory, and no one found puffing away on tobacco in areas where children are present will be punished.

Community policy and planning manager David Tucker said although the policy was not a legislative one, there were other ways to get people to stop smoking around kids.

"It's a policy of encouragement and education. It's not like you'll get a ticket or anything for smoking, but it's a policy encouraging people to stop. It's not a policy trying to manage people's health. It's trying to set appropriate behaviours and looking after children."

Educational programmes connected to smokefree and cancer organisations will also be running, with programmes looking at the dangers of smoking heading to schools, Mr Tucker said.

"There is some sort of peer pressure that will happen there," he said.

"It's kind of like if you see someone smoking at the park where children are and giving them a funny look - pressuring them to stop."

A Counties Manukau District Health Board report citing the 2006 Census showed that 22.1 per cent of people in its area smoked - higher than the general New Zealand rate of 20.7 per cent.

Action on Smoking and Health director Ben Youdan acknowledged that the policy had good intentions, but said there was a need to enforce the non-smoking rule, given tobacco's harsh impact.

"It really is kind of a serious health risk. Parents smoking at home and while they're at the park with the kids - if the child sees that, there's a major risk that they're going to grow up and start smoking."

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/smoking/news/article.cfm?c_id=321&objectid=10535274&ref=rss

Further information:

Adrian Knowles
Health Promotion Manager
Auckland Division
Cancer Society of New Zealand
Tel: 09 308 0164
Email: AKNOWLES@akcansoc.org.nz