MEDIA STATEMENT

25 August 2016

Māori Party push for a smoke-free Parliament gains traction

Māori Party Co-leaders Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell welcome Parliament’s announcement this morning that the Parliamentary Precinct’s smoke-free boundary is being extended.

Mrs Fox says that she had lobbied for the precinct’s smoke-free boundary to be extended as it is important for Parliament to lead by example.

“We expect schools and other workplaces to be smoke-free so its common sense that Parliament grounds should be.”

“Visitors to Parliament shouldn’t have to walk through a gauntlet of second hand smoke on the forecourt in order to enter Parliament,” she says.

Mrs Fox announced her intention to push for changes to Parliament’s smoke-free status in May at Wellington City Council’s launch of the Capital Smoke-free Action Plan. She raised it shortly after with the Speaker of the House during a Business Committee meeting. The Speaker made the announcement today.

Mr Flavell says: “Wellington City Council’s push for Wellington to be a smoke-free capital is entirely achievable and I’m pleased we’re playing our part in that at Parliament.”

“I encourage other cities and towns to follow in our stead.”

Mrs Fox says she would like to see more support for voluntary smoke-free communities around the country.

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