Supporting compliance with smokefree legislation

The Smokefree Environments Act 1990 (and its more recent amendments) is the key piece of Smokefree legislation in New Zealand. It has two main aims:

  1. to reduce the exposure of people to second hand smoke by making certain public areas smokefree;
  2. to prevent young people starting to smoke by controlling the advertising and promotion of tobacco products.

Reducing exposure to smoke in public places

Smokefree Aotearoa New Zealand 2025.This means that all of the following places are Smokefree under the Act:

  • Workplaces including canteens and ‘smoko’ rooms;
  • Schools and early childhood centres including buildings and surrounding grounds; and
  • Internal areas of licensed premises including bars, restaurants, cafes, sports clubs and casinos.

Licensed premises, workplaces and schools all have a responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements of the Act.

Community and Public Health staff can support workplaces to expand or develop a smokefree policy or to help employees to quit smoking – while at work or for good. Contact your local office for more information.

Controlling the advertising and promotion of tobacco products

No Smoking symbol with the words Smokefree underneath.Retailers who sell tobacco products have a responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements of the Act. This means:

  • It is illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18;
  • It is illegal to sell single cigarettes to anyone regardless of age – cigarettes must be sold in packs of at least twenty;
  • It is illegal to display tobacco products in retail outlets;
  • All tobacco products must be sold in standardised packaging (also known as plain packaging); and
  • Tobacco sales via the internet in NZ are also bound by the Act and must not display tobacco products or tobacco information.

Restricting tobacco product advertisement ensures that children and young people are not exposed to the sight of tobacco products. This makes it easier to be smokefree.

A 2016 survey of Christchurch dairies looked at how important selling tobacco was to these retailers. The results may surprise you!

The role of Smokefree Enforcement Officers

Smokefree Enforcement Officers work for the Ministry of Health to ensure compliance with the Act, by:

  • visiting tobacco retailers to remind them of their responsibilities and support them to maintain compliance;
  • conducting Controlled Purchase Operations with young volunteers to test tobacco retailer’s compliance;
  • visiting licensed premises to ensure their open areas (where smoking is allowed) comply with the requirements set out in the Act; and
  • responding to complaints and queries.

Contact your local Smokefree Enforcement Officer at Community and Public Health for support to comply with the Smokefree legislation.


Documents

Downloads

Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

Links

Contact your local Smokefree Enforcement Officer for further information:

CANTERBURY
Christina Lewis
Ph: +64 3 364 1777

SOUTH CANTERBURY
Olivia Ensor
Ph: +64 3 687 2600

WEST COAST
Rodney Beckett
Ph: +64 3 768 1160


Let everyone know your place is smokefree

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 requires all internal areas of workplaces, licensed premises and certain public enclosed premises to be smokefree.

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 came into force in November 2020. It requires vaping to be prohibited in settings where smoking is not permitted.

Signage is used to communicate expectations and help people to know they are in a smokefree and vapefree area.

Smokefree Sign - Smokefree at all Times


Page last updated: 13/09/2023

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