Smokefree Law in New Zealand

Frequently asked questions

Part 1: Smoke-free Environments

Section A: Overview and general questions (updated May 2005)

A1) What are the key changes to smokefree places in New Zealand?

A2) Where do smokefree provisions apply?

A3) Who do smokefree provisions apply to?

A4) What situations do the smokefree provisions not apply to?

A5) How many people are affected by the smokefree law?

A6) What are the aims of the smoke-free law?

A7) What public support is there for the smokefree law?

A8) What are the benefits of providing 100 percent smokefree indoor workplaces?

A9) How are smokers affected by the smokefree law?

A10) Isn’t the law forcing smokers to quit smoking?

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You can download Part 1 in PDF format (189 kB) or in Word format (150 kB).

Section B: Indoor Workplaces and Transport/Vehicles (updated May 2005)

B1) What is the definition of an indoor area of a workplace? Where can people smoke?

B2) Which work-related areas or people aren’t covered by the smokefree provisions?

B3) Does the smoking ban apply to volunteers or independent contractors?

B4) Why not allow separate smoking areas in indoor workplaces?

B5) Are marae, housie halls, community centres, churches and the like included in the 100 percent smokefree provisions?

B6) Do employers or prisons still need to have written policies on smoking? Are smokefree signs and stickers available?

B7) What happens if someone smokes in a workplace? Who is liable?

B8) What happens if someone smokes in an indoor workplace?


Section C: Hospitality Venues - Bars, Pubs, Restaurants, Cafés, Casinos, Clubs etc (updated June 2005)

C1) Which hospitality venues are covered by the 100 percent smoking ban?

C2) What is the definition of an indoor area of a hospitality venue? Where can people smoke?

C3) Why include RSAs and private clubs in the smokefree protections?

C4) Why not allow exemptions for some premises?

C5) Why not allow premises to use ventilation systems instead of a smoking ban?

C6) Why not allow separate smoking areas in hospitality venues?

C7) Aren’t smokefree provisions be bad for hospitality and tourism business?

C8) What is the evidence that smoke-free won’t harm business?

C9) What other jurisdictions have smokefree legislation like New Zealand’s?

C10) What happens if someone smokes in a hospitality venue?


Section D: Schools and Early Childhood Centres (updated May 2005)

D1) What are the key changes to the smokefree status of places where children learn?

D2) What are the smokefree provisions for schools and early childhood centres?

D3) What are the smokefree provisions for other places where young children learn?

D4) Which places of learning for children are not required to be smokefree?

D5) Does the smoking ban apply to tertiary institutions?

D6) Do schools still need to have written policies on smoking?

D7) How do schools and early childhood centres comply with the smokefree provisions?

D8) What happens if someone smokes on school grounds?