What Wellington region city councillors think of smokefree outdoor places.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the knowledge of and attitudes to outdoor smokefree policies expressed by city councillors in the Wellington region.


METHODS
Out of 39 councillors in Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Wellington cities, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 councillors (54%) during November-December 2007.


RESULTS
Most of the interviewees agreed that outdoor smoking would affect role modelling to children (86%) and create litter in public places (76%), whereas other impacts (pollution, health, annoyance, anxiety) attracted less agreement. Many interviewees had little knowledge about such impacts. There was very limited knowledge about existing outdoor smokefree policies elsewhere (38%) including knowledge of the smokefree parks policy in nearby Upper Hutt (19%). There was some support for both such policies (particularly for smokefree playgrounds) and for council intervention. Most councillors identified a range of potential obstacles to effective policy implementation. Some suggested that such obstacles could be overcome by education and advocacy to increase awareness and public support.


CONCLUSIONS
Councillor acceptance of outdoor smokefree policies partly depends on demonstrated public support, and assessments of existing policies. There is a need for health advocates to better inform councillors of the successes of such policies internationally and in New Zealand.
School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Sharon
S
Tay
George
G
Thomson
D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006286:Health Planning Councils; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011639:Public Opinion; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014504:Urban Health
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution