Ngā Tai Ora Public Health Northland’s goal is to reduce smoking uptake/initiation amongst children/youth in Te Tai Tokerau and encourage smokefree public areas.
The Ministry of Health is the key agency for policy development in the tobacco control area and is involved in a large number of policy, service development and operational aspects of tobacco control.
Smokefree Enforcement Officers
Ngā Tai Ora Public Health Northland has Smokefree Enforcement Officers who investigate complaints in relation to the following matters:
Smokefree Places
The following places must be smokefree at all times:
Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990
The Act aims to:
Smokefree Complaints
If you wish to make a complaint about a possible breach of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990, please contact a Smokefree Enforcement Officer on (09) 430 4100. For an investigation to proceed the following information must be provided:
The complainant/witness may be required to attend a court hearing at a future date should the complaint lead to a prosecution under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990.
Compliance Monitoring
A number of premises are monitored by Smokefree Enforcement Officers, for compliance with the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990, such as retailers, licensed premises, schools and early childhood centres.
Education Visits
Tobacco and vape retailers are visited to educate the retailers and ensure compliance with smokefree legislation.
Licensed Premises/ Open and Internal Areas
Licensed premises may provide an open area for people who smoke and/or vape. The area must comply with the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 in that it must not be an internal area and meet the legal description of an open area. Any licensed premise that allows a person to smoke or vape in an internal area may be prosecuted. Smokefree Enforcement Officers can assess open areas for operators to ensure it meets the requirements for an open area.
Schools/Kura and Early Childhood Education Centres
Schools, kura and early childhood education facilities must take all practicable steps to ensure that no person smokes or vapes on any part of the buildings or grounds at all times. No smoking and vaping signs must be displayed at all entrances to the grounds and all entrances and exits to buildings.
What is vaping?
Vaping refers to the use of an electronic device that heats a liquid turning it into an aerosol (vapour) which the user inhales. The ingredients of the e-liquid may vary, but currently, most e-liquids contain propylene glycol. Some, but not all of those liquids, contain nicotine and are also available in different flavours.
Is vaping safe?
Can vaping help people quit smoking?
Vaping can help smokers quit by delivering nicotine. Vaping is a lot less harmful than smoking for smokers. Although vaping’s much less harmful than smoking, it’s not harmless. So, you should plan to eventually quit vaping too, but only when you know you won’t go back to smoking.
You can refer patients for stop smoking/vaping support by phone ext 3560.
Smokefree/Vaping Policy
Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on any hospital sites (indoors and outdoors) or in work vehicles.
You can find our Smokefree Policy here
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