Western Bay of Plenty District Council staff are defending their latest policy which bans smoking in designated public areas in the region such as beaches.
The smokefree policy covers parks, playgrounds, reserves, halls, skate parks, sports fields and beaches in the Western Bay of Plenty, which covers Waihi Beach, Katikati, the Kaimai area, Te Puke, Maketu and Pukehina.

Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor Ross Paterson says the council hopes the policy will raise awareness of antipathy many people now have toward smoking in public areas such as parks, reserves and playgrounds.
'This is not a ban; council has no intention of taking any action against people for smoking in public spaces.
'But it is a strong affirmation by this council to support a smokefree environment and to empower people to ask someone who is smoking to please stop,” says Ross.
While 23 local bodies in New Zealand already have adopted smokefree policies, the Western Bay District Council is only the third to include beaches under its policy, the other two being Opotiki and Gisborne.