Beaches, outdoor dining areas and most public spaces in Auckland's CBD could be designated smokefree as early as this summer.
The Auckland Council is today set to sign-off the next push in its bid to make the city smokefree in eight years.
Most of its facilities and parks went smokefree four years ago when the policy was first introduced.
From next month, the smoking ban would extend to beaches, areas around sports clubs, and outdoor dining.
Beaches, outdoor dining areas and most public spaces in Auckland's CBD could be designated smokefree as early as this summer. Photo: 123RF
Environment and community committee chair Penny Hulse said New Zealand had a commitment to being smokefree and as part of that commitment, Auckland was working on it as well.
"We are working towards being smokefree by 2025."
'It says to smokers, not here, make the effort to go somewhere else' - Penny Hulse
However, Ms Hulse said the policy would not affect dining areas that have their own smoking areas.
Without a by-law, people who breached the policy could not be fined but most Aucklanders had complied with the policy so far, she said.
"There won't be a smoking police but there will be signs that people can point to.
"It says to smokers, not here, make the effort to go somewhere else."
Ms Hulse said the ban would not apply to vaping.
On banning the sale of tobacco in the future, she said that was up to the government.
"We do what we can with the areas we are responsible for."