Gisborne Tairawhiti League Goes Smokefree

Media Statement
Thursday 12 April 2007

Gisborne Tairawhiti League Goes Smokefree

Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League continues to look after the health of its players, supporters and officials as the Royale Cars Eastern Alliance Rugby League Competition kicks off on Saturday.

The competition will be smokefree from this year and League Manager Tuta Ngarimu says it’s just one more step towards protecting whanau and hapu.
“We have done a lot with this competition over the past five years, implementing change so more families and children come back and support rugby league.”

“We are already alcohol free, so becoming smokefree is the next logical step. It means Awapuni Stadium will be completely smokefree. If you want to have a cigarette you will have to go outside the stadium.”

Mr Ngarimu said it wasn’t the person that Rugby League had a problem with, it was the smoke and the image of smoking. “We aren’t saying don’t smoke, we are simply asking that they don’t smoke around our people enjoying our game.”

Smokefree messages will be promoted heavily at the weekly fixtures with signage and smokefree sponsored merchandise. Regular announcements over the public address system will remind people the stadium is smokeree.

Tairawhiti District Health’s Population Health Portfolio Manager and member of regional smokefree group Taki Tahi Toa Mano, Pania Ruakere, is thrilled the organisers have decided to play their part in promoting a smokefree Tairawhiti.

“Creating more smokefree environments in our district will reduce the risks family and whanau are exposed to when someone near them smokes. Anyone choosing to smoke should ask themselves ‘is this the behaviour I want to role model for others around me?’ then make the sensible decision to move into one of the two designated areas to protect their family and friends.”

“We hope this is another way helping people quit. If just one person chooses to quit or stay smokefree, it will be all worthwhile. But of course we are hoping for a much bigger response.”
The Royale Cars Easten Alliance Rugby League Competition kicks off with The Kaiti Devils vs Mustangs at 1pm and The Paikea Whalers vs EITSA at 2.30pm, Awapuni Stadium, Saturday 14 April.

ENDS

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