Wairarapa’s three district councils recently asked residents, businesses and community organisations for their views on smoking and vaping to contribute to the development of a combined smoke and vapefree policy for the region.

Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa District Councils have agreed to develop a combined Wairarapa Smoke and Vapefree Policy to support New Zealand’s goal to be Smokefree by 2025.

The combined policy will be an update of the three separate smokefree policies each council currently has in place.

The revised combined smoke and vapefree policy will provide a consistent approach across the region so that the policy can be easily interpreted and supported by our community.

Views on three key aspects were sought:
• general attitudes towards smoking and vaping
• smoking and vaping in public spaces and events
• ways to encourage smoke and vapefree environments.

There is a separate survey for community members and businesses and organisations. The survey closed on Sunday 2 October 2022.