Smokefree signs for major Palmerston North parks

Smokefree messages are coming to Palmerston North playgrounds and sports fields as the city finally joins its neighbours in trying to stub out smokers lighting up near children.

The city council's community well-being committee last night committed $15,000 for signage, though the no-smoking policy would not be enforced.

Councillor Chris Teo-Sherrell said the project would set a positive example, helping young people not to start smoking in the first place.

Mr Teo-Sherrell said efforts to discourage smoking needed to focus on young people.

Children who saw parents and other role models smoking were more likely to smoke, he said.

Discouraging smoking in public parks would reinforce a distinction between healthy physical activity and smoking, he said.

Councillor Pat Kelly said the city council had been slow to act.

The Manawatu and Tararua districts started installing signage last year and Horowhenua did so this year.

Mayor Jono Naylor suggested signage be placed at the city's high-profile parks initially, then at more parks later.

Councillor Peter Wheeler said efforts to make smoking unpopular had been a tremendous success.

Mr Wheeler said he was taught to smoke by the military and giving up was hard, but he hadn't smoked in seven weeks.

Councillors unanimously supported the no-smoking policy.

Cancer Society health promoter Renee Miller said smoking levels in Palmerston North were slightly above the national average.

The average starting age was 14.

Signage helped promote healthy lifestyles and to "denormalise" smoking, she said.

The city council had estimated the cost of signage to be $180,000.

City enterprises general manager Ray Swadel said the figure was based on $3000 per sign at 60 playgrounds and sports fields. He conceded the work could be done at a cheaper cost.

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