Some of the sporting stadium's in New Zealand which have gone smokefree are listed below including Mount Smart Stadium (Auckland), Eden Park Stadium (Auckland), Westpac Stadium (Wellington), AMI Stadium (Christchurch), Waikato Stadium (Hamilton), Okara Park Stadium (Whangarei), Bayer Growers Stadium (Pukekohe) and North Harbour Stadium (Albany, Auckland).
Since March 2007 seating areas at Mt Smart Stadium have been smokefree. This includes grandstands and corporate box indoor and outdoor seating. There has been a high level of support from Warriors fans for keeping seating areas smokefree, with most patrons respecting the policy and the over whelming majority of feedback received from patrons has been of a positive nature.
A survey from August 2007 found that 80 per cent of patrons supported smokefree seating (fifteen per cent said the move was ‘very good’ and 65 per cent rated it as ‘excellent’).
A survey from August 2008 found that 95 per cent of patrons supported the decision to make seating areas smoekfree. (Source: Mt Smart Stadium Attendee Survey Vodafone Warriors Game, 9 August 2008. Commissioned by stadium owner Auckland Regional Council, Conducted by TouchPoll Auckland.)
"There's no question that smoke-free has been positive ... It's far more inviting, and for people with families they are conscious of the need for a smoke-free environment," said Vodafone Warriors ambassador Peter Leitch, the 'Mad Butcher'. "This stadium is to be congratulated for it. Personally, myself and my family prefer it smoke-free and we enjoy the stadium."
Eden Park Stadium introduced a smokefree policy on 1 January 2008. The Stadium is now smokefree in every part of the stadium, including outdoors, other than designated smoking areas. The Eden Park smokefree initiative is being driven by the Eden Park Trust Board and has support from Auckland Rugby and Auckland Cricket as well as the Cancer Society, Auckland Regional Council, Auckland Regional Public Health, Heart Foundation, Health Sponsorship Council and Action on Smoking and Health.
The Westpac Stadium is a Smokefree Venue. There is no smoking in the Stadium bowl. Smoking is only allowed in two designated areas: the area between the turnstiles and the main doors to the concourse and the emergency exit spiral ramp at the northern end of the Stadium (between aisle 34 and 35). More...
AMI Stadium became offically smokefree since August 2000. Smoking is banned in all indoor areas, seating bowls, including access ways and around entry gates. More...
Waikato Stadium has been designated a smoke free venue. Smoking is not permitted inside the buildings or within the Arena area. Corporate and Exclusive Lounge holders have the right to set 'their own smoking' policy inside their lounge, however, the tiered external seating must remain non-smoking. All staff, contractors, visitors, hirers and customers are expected to abide by the requirements of the smoke free policy.
Implementation includes-signage, condition of venue hire, included in relevant advertising and marketing materials and avenues, staff applying for positions are informed of the policy and displayed in office areas and security and events staff will be provided training on how to handle smoking issues in the appropriate manner. More...
Northland's Okara Park Stadium (a regional events centre being constructed at Whangarei's Okara Park) will be 100% smokefree, including its grounds. More...
Recently opened, Kensington Stadium is totally smokefree.
Introduced a smokefree policy in 2008 that restricted smoking to only two designated areas. Their policy applies to when their stadium is being used by their main rugby team and by any other people who hire out the park. Their policy was enforced through having signage and PA announcements. They found they had very high rates of compliance. This year they decided to go 100% smokefree. Anybody who wishes to smoke will have to go outside the stadium to do so. The only changes this will mean for them is updating their PA announcements and making security aware of the change. They found the most effective way to implement any new policy was through a period of strong enforcement and then the policy was embedded.
North Harbour Stadium has a smoke free policy in all internal areas of the Grandstand. Smoking areas for the Grandstand are available on the outside balconies behind the grandstand. Smoking is also prohibited in all seated areas of the Grandstand and Open Stand.