Manukau introduces smoke-free parks

Children using parks in south Auckland are set to benefit from a new smoke-free policy being launched later this month.

Manukau will launch its Smokefree Parks policy at the 2009 ASB Polyfest, which starts on March 18.

The new policy means all parks in Manukau will be smokefree in areas used by children and young people, such as playgrounds and sports fields.

Mayor Len Brown welcomed the new initiative.

"Parks are places for children to be active, play sport and keep fit and healthy. It's not appropriate they should also be places where children are exposed to people smoking," Mr Brown said.

Manukau joins a growing number of councils around New Zealand that have introduced smoking restrictions in areas used by children.

They include Waitakere, South Taranaki, Upper Hutt, Central Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth, Wairarapa, Napier, Hastings, Queenstown, Gisborne, Kapiti and Rotorua.

Signs will go up in the council-owned parks so people are clear which areas are smoke-free.

- NZPA