Officials fume over smoking Crowe

Russell Crowe

Public health officials will be investigating all of Russell Crowe's New Zealand concert venues for allegedly breaching the smoke-free law after the Oscar-winning actor repeatedly lit up on stage.

The Hollywood bad boy is again in the headlines for the wrong reasons after smoking at his indoor concerts in Auckland and Wellington last week - in breach of the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act, which bans smoking in bars, restaurants and casinos.

The actor was told at least once - at Wellington's Ilott Theatre - but reacted indifferently.

Under the act, however, the onus is on the venue's management to ensure its premises are smoke-free.

The Ministry of Health says it will be investigating. Dr Ashley Bloomfield, chief adviser of public health, said officers follow up every complaint.

"If there was a report of what may be a breach of the legislation, we would follow that up."

But one venue, Auckland's SkyCity, is confident it did everything it could. It could face a fine of up to $4000 if prosecuted, but prosecution can be avoided if it demonstrates it took all reasonable steps to prevent unlawful smoking, such as giving a verbal warning to the smoker, or displaying no-smoking signs.

SkyCity spokesman Paul Gregory confirmed Crowe smoked during the half-time interval but did not think it would have been reasonable to shut the concert.

He would not say if someone warned Crowe, but said the performer's management was aware that it was a non-smoking venue.

The same compliance measures applied in its arrangement with Crowe's promoters, he said.

"Part of that compliance, of course, is no smoking, as it is for everybody else. And we're confident we made every effort that we could to make that clear."

Crowe's promoter, Brent Eccles, said he did not know if Crowe knew of the smoking ban. He was with Crowe at his first concert at Leigh Sawmill Cafe, north of Auckland, but was not with him at SkyCity or in Wellington.

"I saw him smoking, but he was doing it very discreetly ... I don't think anyone took any notice, to be honest.

An official investigation was "an overreaction", he said.

"It think it's very unfortunate. I think there are bigger issues to deal with, but if they must, they must."