Taupō district now smoke and vape free
Taupō is now a smoke and vape free district, under the new Taupō District Council Smokefree Action Plan.
The plan supports the Government’s goal for New Zealand to become a smokefree country by 2025 and covers public places across the district, including the lakefront, that will now be smoke and vape free.
“Encouraging our community to be smoke and vape free helps support the health and wellbeing of our families and whanau,” said councillor John Williamson who holds the environment portfolio alongside councillor John Mack.
“We know the lakefront is an important part of who we are here in Taupō and we really wanted to ensure this was included in the plan and it will also mean we are looking after our lake by reducing litter and butts.
“By creating these smoke and vape free environments across our district we are setting the best example for our children and de-normalising smoking. Evidence shows that doing this reduces the likelihood of smoking later in life,” added councillor John Mack.
“We’re also encouraging any cafes with outdoor dining to come on board and encourage their diners to be smoke and vape free too,” he said.
The areas across the district that are smoke and vape free are:
CBD / Civic Spaces
Reserves and Parks, including lakefront reserves and beaches
Sports Grounds
Outdoor Dining
Events - events on Council property, and funded or supported by Council
Council Buildings
Bus stops and shelters
Social Housing
There will be signage in place where areas are smoke and vape free and while not a by-law, the plan aims to use education and awareness to reduce smoking and vaping.
Pictured (left to right): Environmental Ranger Shannon Hanson, Councillor John Mack, Councillor John Williamson with the signage that is about to be put in place across the district.
Say goodbye to tyre waste
About 40% of the 6.5 million tyres Kiwis use every year are recycled, repurposed, or used as tyre-derived fuel. But the rest end up in landfills, stockpiled or dumped.
The good news is now there’s an easy solution to all that tyre waste. It’s called Tyrewise and is New Zealand’s first national tyre recycling scheme.
Tyrewise ensures that tyres in Aotearoa New Zealand are recycled or repurposed properly, saving millions from going to the landfill.
Find out more about the scheme online.
Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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91.7% Yes
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7.8% No
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0.5% Other - I'll share below!
Know Thy Neighbour? We are getting there!
We are loving seeing everyone's posts about themselves on our Know Thy Neighbour page.
Check out the neighbours in your area, you might find a walking group or choir to join and you might learn a few more neighbours names!
Feel like getting involved? Introduce yourself too, you might win one of our $50 Prezzy® card spot prizes...
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