1. Breathe Easy in Hanmer Springs
Findings from a New Zealand vapefree and smokefree town centre
Cheryl Ford Cancer Society of New Zealand
Health Promotion Advisor
Dr David Brinson & Charlotte Ward Community and Public Health
Public Health Analysts Canterbury District Health Board
Oceania Tobacco Control Conference: October 2019

2. Breathe Easy in Hanmer Springs
Smokefree and Vapefree Zone across the entire retail/business area
Evaluated 6-month trial
Stakeholders
Cancer Society
Canterbury District Health Board
Hanmer Springs Community Board
Hurunui District Council
Hanmer Springs Business Association
Local community
New Zealand’s Alpine Spa Village
Hanmer Springs
Population: 1220
17% current smokers
Tourist destination
367,669 guest nights
32% international

3. Timeline
Timeline
Inaugural Smokefree Outdoor Strategy
Smokefree Outdoor Strategy extended
Breathe Easy trial implemented & evaluated
2012
2016
2017
2019
2018
Local Government deputations
Surveys / consultation

5. Evaluation aim To assess and report on:
general levels of awareness of the zone
attitudes of different stakeholder groups
overall level of support for the continuation of the zone
smoking/vaping prevalence
any unintended consequences of the zone

6. 10 hours 46 mins field observations
Evaluation methods
166 56
133
548
Residents
Business
Tourists 31 23
10 hours 46 mins field observations

7. Observational Study
Observational scans used to assess point prevalence of smoking and vaping at baseline and during trial. 10 hours, 46 mins 7,034 adults 1,768 children
BASELINE 3,355 adults
TRIAL
3,740 adults
Point prevalence
Smoking & Vaping
1.9%
0.4%
Smoking
1.7%
0.3%
Vaping
0.1%
p < .0001
Method informed by Thomson, G., Russell, M.,Jenkin, G., Patel, v., & Wilson, N. (2013) Health Place, 20, 19-24
Thomson, G., & Pathmanathan, N. (2016) The point prevalence of smoking in selected sports fields and downtown locations in Wellington: Observations in November 2015.

8. Level of support for Breathe Easy
What do you think about the Smokefree and Vapefree Zone in Hanmer Springs ?
939 Respondents
548 Visitor feedback cards
189 point-intercept interviews
53 Business owners
149 Residents

9. *Only asked of visitors interviewed on the street
Perspective matters
Should the Smokefree and Vapefree Zone in Hanmer Springs become permanent? - by stakeholder group
n=54
n=203
n=105
96.4%
n=28
*Only asked of visitors interviewed on the street
Percent

10. Business: Impact of zone
Overall, how would you describe any difference to your business since the start of the trial (n=53)
n=37
n=9
n=7

11. Visitors: Level of support
Face to face interviews on the street:
International 96.4% (27/28) Domestic % (88/105)
Feedback cards from guests at accommodation providers:
n=433
Percent

12. Are smokefree outdoor spaces a deterrent to tourists?
Would you be more or less likely to visit other places in New Zealand that have no smoking/no vaping zones?
547 respondents Accommodation guest
- feedback cards
115 international
432 domestic

13. Qualitative themes Views on outdoor vaping
Few respondents differentiated between smoking and vaping
Some respondents while accepting that vaping probably does not pose a physical risk to others, still felt it interfered with others’ space
Smoking behaviour
“[vaping] still models addictive behaviour to children” (Resident)
“Kids copy what adults do, vaping doesn't harm others but kids still curious about it…” (Visitor)
No perceived harm
“People have a right to smoke and there are no harms of vaping” (Business owner)
Rights of non-smokers
“I think both habits are intrusive to others” (Visitor)

14. Qualitative themes Supportive themes Rights of non-smokers
Aligns with Hanmer Springs’ ‘healthy environment’
Long-term vision for smokefree
Unsupportive themes
Individual rights and curtailment of free choice/liberty
Impact to business and tourism
Enforcement and effectiveness
Concern for tourism impact
“We are a tourist town, and need as many people as possible to visit our beautiful area” (Business owner)
Marketable point of difference
“Great way to market Hanmer Springs as a healthy destination” (Resident)

15. Smokefree and Vapefree Synergy with Hanmer Springs’ branding

16. Implications
Vaping regulations
Tourism and 2025
Locally
Nationally