Auckland University campus goes smoke-free

Students and staff at Auckland University can no longer slip outside for a quick puff.

The university has become a smoke-free campus, inside and outside, and smoking has been banned, even in areas once designated as smoking areas.

The university said of the 5000 people a year who died from smoking related illnesses, 400 died through passive smoking.

"The university decided its old policy was proving ineffective in combating the very real risks to non smokers of passive smoking," it said in a smoke-free policy document.

It said the new policy would eliminate the effects of passive smoking and lead to "a healthier and cleaner environment for our staff and students to thrive, and take pride in".

The university said it recognised smoking was an addiction but was not telling students and staff to stop smoking through its smoke-free policy, although if they wanted to they could talk to the University Health Services or call Quitline.

- NZPA