Ban on smoking queried

A move by Victoria University to extinguish smoking on campus has prompted questions about how the ban will be enforced.

Students and staff were asked in August to have their say on the university’s proposal to make all four of its campuses smokefree.

More than 2400 submissions were received, with 72 per cent in favour of the ban.

From April, students and staff craving a cigarette will have to move on to public land outside Te Aro campus in Vivian St.

The university’s existing Safe Campus Policy prohibits smoking within 3 metres of a building, but this is widely ignored, prompting speculation that the new smoking ban is something of an empty gesture.

When asked whether resources would be devoted to upholding the policy, Victoria University spokeswoman Shelley Cartwright said the university planned to ‘‘focus on education [and] making sure that people are aware of the new provisions, rather than enforcement’’.

Cartwright said people who wished to give up smoking would be supported in the lead-up to the smokefree implementation.

Auckland University became smokefree in 2010, and registrar Tim Greville said the policy had made a ‘‘noticeable difference on campuses’’, even though it was not actively enforced.

Canterbury University and Auckland University of Technology were also smokefree.

Victoria’s policy will take effect on April 1.