New Zealand

Updated 19th May 2005

On 3 December 2003, an amendment to the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 was passed. The amendment (the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003), required, among other things that:

• The buildings and grounds of schools and early childhood centres become
  smoke-free from 1 January 2004
• Licensed premises (bars, restaurants, cafes, sports clubs, casinos) become smoke-free indoors from 10 December 2004
• Other workplaces become smoke-free indoors from 10 December 2004 – including offices, factories, warehouses, work canteens and 'smoko' rooms

The use of herbal smoking products is also prohibited under the legislation. There are some exemptions, including prison cells, and smoking rooms are permitted in rest homes, hospitals and psychiatric institutions. Further information regarding the smoke-free law is available from the Ministry of Health Government website at: http://www.moh.govt.nz/smokefreelaw

South Taranaki has recently announced it’s smoke-free policy in parks and playgrounds, a first for New Zealand.  

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