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Upper Hutt City Council approves policy to make parks, playgrounds and sports fields in Upper Hutt smokefree
The Upper Hutt City Council, with the support of Regional Public Health (Hutt Valley District Health Board), has approved a policy that will make all parks, playgrounds and sports fields in Upper Hutt smokefree. The introduction of smokefree Upper Hutt parks is a progressive step forward in the interests of everyone’s health, but for the next generation in particular. The policy comes into effect on 31 May 2006, which is also World Smokefree Day. Studies show that the less exposure children have to smoking, the less likely they are to see smoking as normal and to become smokers themselves. 
The smokefree parks policy is about doing all we can to help our young people stay smokefree. Our parks and reserves are where our children play, socialise and compete, and where they learn the value of health and fitness. By agreeing not to smoke around Upper Hutt’s children, adults serve as positive smokefree role models. We encourage everyone in our city to support the smokefree parks policy. Let’s make Upper Hutt an even better place to live in by discouraging unhealthy behaviour in areas set aside for recreation. From 31 May, please choose to make a positive difference for our city by not lighting up in public parks and reserves. The Council encourages all coaches, players, parents and supporters to help make a positive difference for our city by not lighting up while attending sporting events in Upper Hutt City Council parks.
Source: Smokefree Parks in Upper Hutt City, Upper Hutt City Council website.
URL: http://www.upperhuttcity.com/News/NewsDetail.asp?NewsID=188
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Council takes a stand on smoking
Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy is determined to clear the air. In an attempt to stub out cigarette-related health problems in the city, his council is designating all its parks, playgrounds and reserves smokefree. But anyone who ignores the ban and lights up on the sideline during Saturday morning kids' rugby will escape prosecution, a fine or even a slap on the hand.
The policy is educational only, designed to encourage people not to smoke in council controlled areas used by children for recreation, Mr Guppy said.
"We're not going to have people hiding behind trees.
"Whether you smoke or not, we all know it's not good for us. When kids are playing sport on Saturday mornings, it's not a good look to have 50 people on the sidelines with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths."
The Health Ministry estimates about 4500 New Zealanders die from smoking-related illnesses each year. Because children and young people often emulate role models, the council decided to show leadership by going smokefree.
The policy will take effect on May 31, World Smokefree Day. Signs are being erected around Upper Hutt parks at a cost of about $6000 – paid for by
Regional Public Health and Smokefree. They say: "You are breathing good, clean, fresh Upper Hutt air. We would prefer that you did not smoke in this park."
South Taranaki District Council has introduced a similar initiative, but Upper Hutt is the first metropolitan centre to take the plunge, Mr Guppy said.
It was not about demonising smokers, but encouraging healthy living and providing good role models for young people.
The initiative was supported by Hutt Valley District Health Board.
"If this project can save one kid from smoking, then we've done our job," he said.
Source: Lane Nichols, 'Council takes a stand on smoking', Dominion Post, 22 May 2006
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Public keen to see smoke-free parks
The public is keen to see smoke-free parks implemented, particularly where there are children's playgrounds, according to a recent study by University of Otago medical students in Wellington.
The students evaluated the effectiveness and public support for Upper Hutt City Council's smokefree policy, adopted in 2006 for all parks and reserves.
The study was part of the students' programme in public health and was commissioned by the Cancer Society and the Upper Hutt City Council.
The policy reflects international efforts to make outdoor areas such as parks, playgrounds, sporting fields, and beaches smokefree.
"There's growing interest in smokefree parks to prevent the negative role modelling effects of visible smoking for children, as well as preventing environmental effects such as littering, said Dr Richard Edwards from the University's Department of Public Health.
The students asked the views of 587 park users in Upper Hutt. They found that 62 per cent of people were aware of the policy, with 83 per cent of park users believing smokefree parks were a good idea, including 73 per cent of smokers.
Of the smokers who knew about the policy, 17 per cent still smoked in the parks compared with 32 per cent of those who did not know about the policy.
Source: Public keen to see smoke-free parks. NZPA, Friday, 16 November 2007
URL: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4275436a20475.html
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Upper Hutt council bans smoking in parks
From today, World Smokefree Day, the Upper Hutt City Council is banning lighting up in its parks, reserves, playgrounds and sports fields. It is New Zealand's first city council to ban smoking in parks.
Officials at the Auckland, Manukau and North Shore city councils said last night they had no plans to follow suit.
Last year, South Taranaki became the first district council to ban smoking in its parks, playgrounds and swimming pools.
Source: Upper Hutt council bans smoking in parks, NZ Herald, Wednesday May 31, 2006
URL: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/location/story.cfm?l_id=316&ObjectID=10384305
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Rimutaka rugby: keeping kiwi kids smokefree
Ben Kingi, Public Relations Officer from Rimutaka Rugby Football Club in Wellington talks about the challenges and successes of adopting a smokefree strategy for the wellbeing of their members. And what it means for the tamariki.
If you are looking for a club that means more to its members than just rugby, you need not look past Rimutaka Rugby Football Club in Upper Hutt. Well known for their friendly whanau environment and welcoming hospitality, Rimutaka is a place where all can feel equal and at home, regardless of age, culture or ability. The club is based in a predominantly Maori and Polynesian community and membership is reflective of this.
Taking advantage of a growing number of Junior players at the Club and the desire to send out more positive messages to their kids, the 2005 season signalled the beginning of a series of initiatives targeting health
improvements for club members.
Long term, issues such as the association of alcohol with sport, health and nutrition, exercise and drug and alcohol abuse are just some of the areas that will be addressed, however the fi rst initiative was targeted at smoking.
In August 2005, the Rimutaka RFC became the fi rst local rugby club to make their junior sports fi elds smokefree.
With the help of Ally Avery and Kay Thomson at Hutt Valley District Health Board, a Smokefree Policy was put in place and cleared by the Rimutaka Committee. All parents and spectators were made aware of the policy and
the reasons why the policy was put in place.
The support for this was fantastic. Within a very short time, all smoking on and around the fields was gone. The kids were put in charge of enforcing the policy, which was in effect theirs, and were quite prepared to remind any of their elders of the rules, should they have been tempted to ‘light up’. So far, this method of “modelling positive behaviour” has had a wonderful effect and many visitors and supporters of the Club have been complimentary of this idea.
The success of this initiative has encouraged Rimutaka to now adopt this Smokefree policy for its Summer Touch Module, so the message can continue to be sent out. It will only be a matter of time before Maoribank Park becomes one of the fi rst Smokefree Parks in Wellington, and Rimutaka Rugby Football Club will have be than pleased to have been the Club that started it all off.
The Foundation encourages all sports clubs to follow Rimutaka Rugby Football Club’s lead in sending positive smokefree messages to Kiwi children.
Source: www.asthmanz.co.nz/files/35497_Newsletter_5V2.pdf