No move against vaping for now

It seems Palmerston North vapers can keep letting off steam for at least another year.

Whanganui last week restricted vaping in the river city, but there are no plans to immediately follow suit in Palmerston North.

City council policy analyst Lili Kato said there were no vaping restrictions at the moment, mainly because the current smokefree policy was enacted in 2013.

‘‘[Vaping] wasn’t around at that stage, so it was not commented on by anyone.’’

But the policy was in line to be reviewed by the end of 2018.

The draft policy would use information from various sources, such as a report set to go to the Government in August about how to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025, Kato said.

The review would also involve

‘‘[Vaping] wasn’t around at that stage, so it was not commented on by anyone.’’ Policy analyst Lili Kato

giving residents the opportunity to make their views known, she said.

The Government plans to legalise vaping next year as it’s viewed as an alternative to smoking.

Vaping restrictions hit the headlines after the Whanganui District Council signed off a new smokefree policy, lumping vapers and smokers in the same camp.

Whanganui parks, reserves, sports grounds and parts of the central business district are all vape- and smoke-free.

Whanganui mayor Hamish Mcdouall said the decision was based on health risks and young people moving from vaping to smoking. But vapers said it was healthier than smoking and used as a means to give up cigarettes.