Council U-turns on smokefree Auckland targets

Auckland Council’s decision to delay meeting ambitious smokefree targets has been slammed.

Council’s Smokefree Policy 2017 to 2025 was presented to the environment and community committee.

In the original Smokefree Policy of 2013, Auckland Council had committed to putting measures in place to make beaches, urban centres and al fresco dining areas smokefree by May 2018.

But, in the updated policy, Auckland Council backed out of that commitment and said the areas would only become smokefree between 2019 and 2025.

The new policy was labelled ‘‘weak’’ and ‘‘back-peddling’’ by representatives from the Cancer Society, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Hapai te Hauora, Vape to Save and Pacific Smokefree. Councillors Chris Darby, Richard Hills and Cathy Casey also criticised the policy.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service spokeswoman Hayley Pritchard said the new policy showed a dramatic change in Auckland Council’s commitment to smokefree public spaces.

‘‘We believe the policy has been weakened rather than strengthened and we find that concerning,’’ Pritchard said.

Cancer Society Auckland and Northland chief executive John Loof said smoking rates across the Tasman were about 25 percent lower than New Zealand.

’’That is not because Aussie doctors are better than ours, it is because their local and central government politicians have acted quickly and decisively.’’

Hapai te Hauora general manager Tania Schipper said if Auckland Council adopted the new ’’weak policy’’ Maori and Pacific populations would not be smokefree until 2065.

Councillor Chris Darby said Auckland Council had also failed to make shared spaces, civic squares and plazas smokefree,

‘‘The policy has been weakened rather than strengthened.’’ Hayley Pritchard

which was called ‘‘phase two’’ and was meant to roll out in May 2015.

For a policy to be effectively implemented, there needs to be public awareness, he said. Council staff said there was no public awareness campaign because there was no funding.

Councillor Penny Hulse said Auckland Council needed to reestablish its commitment to smokefree 2025. Council failed to adopt the revised policy and would provide a further revised policy in October.

SIMON MAUDE/STUFF Auckland councillor Chris Darby says there needs to be more public awareness about smokefree plans so they can be implemented.