SMOKEFREE ENVIRONMENTS

Our strategic objectives include:

• Reducing tobacco-related health inequities

• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships which collaborate on shared goals

• Supporting key types of areas that public use to be Smokefree in policy and practice

• Championing stronger regulatory mechanisms to limit tobacco supply in Tamaki Makaurau

• Collecting and analysing data to inform and monitor our strategic direction.

ARPHS Smokefree Officers investigate complaints in relation to the following matters:

• Smoking in workplaces
• Smoking in all hospitality venues and certain public places
• Smoking in schools and early childhood centres
• The sale of toy tobacco products
• The sale and supply of tobacco products and herbal products to young adults
• The retail display of tobacco products
• The advertising of tobacco products.

If you wish to make a complaint about a possible breach of the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, please contact one of our smokefree officers on (09) 623 4600 ext. 27272.

The minimum information required for an investigation to proceed is:

• Name and address of retailer/premises/workplace
• Date and time of incident
• Whether the complainant actually saw the breach
• A brief description of incident
• Whether any photographic or video footage of the incident was taken
• Whether the complainant is willing to state the organisation they work for. Does the complainant wish to remain anonymous; if so, there will be no further contact from ARPHS smokefree officers
• Should the complainant wish to give us their contact details, they may be required to attend a court hearing at a future date should the complaint lead to a prosecution under the smoke-free Environments Act 1990.

What you need to know about vaping

• Vaping is not for children or young people.
• Vaping is not for non-smokers.
• The best thing you can do for your health is be smoke-free and vape free.
• Vaping is not harmless but it is much less harmful than smoking.
• Vaping can help some people quit smoking.

For more information visit the Ministry of Health’s vaping website - https://vapingfacts.health.nz/

Sales of vaping products

It is currently illegal for anyone to sell vaping products to under 18s, whether online or in person.

Only specialist vape retailers (those who sell over 70% vaping products) are able to sell vape flavours beyond tobacco, menthol and mint. These should not be sold at general retailers such as dairies or service stations from August 11, 2021.

Vaping is currently not allowed on public transport, inside workplaces or around schools or early childhood centres.

Any publically visible vaping advertisement is prohibited in New Zealand, beyond a simple sign advising regulated products are available. This includes international advertisements targeted at Kiwis as well as online advertisements.

We regularly undertake ‘controlled purchase operations’ on premises that sell tobacco products. Controlled purchase operations involve volunteers under the age of 18 years who, within a safe environment, attempt to purchase tobacco products. We use this as a way to educate and teach tobacco retailers on the importance of asking for and checking identification of anyone purchasing tobacco.

ARPHS is aligned with the Government's Smokefree 2025 goal for New Zealand. 

Smokefree 2025 will be achieved by:

• Protecting children from exposure to tobacco marketing and promotion
• Reducing the supply of, and demand for, tobacco
• Providing the best possible support for quitting.

• Smokefreee Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020
• Hāpai te Hauora - National Tobacco Control Advocacy

Useful websites

For support to stop smoking:

• Counties Manukau Healthy Living Smokefree (Counties Manukau on Healthpoint)
• Stop Smoking Service (Ready, Steady, Quit)
• Directory of stop smoking services across New Zealand (Smokefree)
• Free advice and non-judgemental support to quit smoking (Quitline – Me Mutu)

Information for professionals:

• Tobacco control (Ministry of Health)
• Smokefree (Cancer Society)
• Action Smoking and Health (ASH)
• ASPIRE2020 (leading NZ tobacco-control research)