WELLINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Local outdoor smokefree action is rapidly growing around New Zealand, according to a research from the University of Otago, Wellington, on Friday.
In a study published Friday in the NZ Medical Journal, the researchers identified local smokefree progress around the country in outdoor smokefree dining, large outdoor work sites and ski-fields, and parts of downtown areas such as squares and streets.
Lead author, associate professor George Thomson from the University's Department of Public Health, said in the study that local councils have used pavement-lease policies and bylaws to start smokefree outdoor dining.
Tobacco-free retailing also continues to expand, particularly in Northland, Thomson said, adding that moves towards smokefree outdoor hospitality areas are particularly important, as it is very easy for people, who are trying to quit smoking, to relapse to smoking again when they visit these areas.
The New Zealand government, despite having a Smokefree 2025 goal, has not introduced any new smokefree areas regulation since 2004, he said, adding that the culture of "a drink and a smoke" must be changed much more quickly."
The study authors note this trend towards outdoor smokefree areas is consistent with other developed countries, particularly Australia, Canada and the United States, but the difference is that in most of these places the power of the law is used to protect people in outdoor hospitality settings.
"New Zealand is behind these countries and could make better use of national laws to ensure regions have smokefree areas across the board," Thomson said, adding that successful previous New Zealand laws have created smokefree pubs, restaurants and school grounds.
