We're Going Smokefree on 11 November 2019

Kennedy Park Resort Napier continues its shift towards better sustainability practices and wellbeing for guests with the decision to go smokefree from next Monday, 11 November.

All areas within the Napier City Council owned accommodation facility will be smokefree. “This is part of our sustainable and guest wellbeing practice. We are happy to support the New Zealand Government’s goal of a smoke-free country by 2025. Society in general is becoming very health conscious, and we need to move with this and support the health and comfort of our guests,” says David Aflallo, Kennedy Park Manager.

It also aligns with Kennedy Park’s commitment to the Qualmark sustainability initiatives to create a “greener future”, says Mr Aflallo, and is in keeping with the facility signing up to Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s Tourism Sustainability Commitment.

The main goal of this industry led initiative is to see every New Zealand tourism business committed to sustainability by 2025.

Kennedy Park is also a supporter of the Tiaki Promise, aimed at ensuring international visitors care for people, places and culture now and into the future.  The Tiaki Promise was developed by seven industry organisations including Tourism New Zealand, Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Department of Conservation.

"Smokefree facilities provide a more enjoyable experience for the vast majority of visitors, so it's great to see Kennedy Park Resort Napier taking a leading role in this space. Enhancing the visitor experience is one of the key industry goals outlined in the Tourism Sustainability Commitment, which has had great uptake from the holiday parks sector overall. The sector's commitment to sustainability will help ensure New Zealand remains a high quality destination of choice for both international and domestic visitors."  - TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts. 

Holiday Parks New Zealand congratulate Kennedy Park Resort on its decision to go smoke free from 11 November.  "Holiday parks attract a wide range of visitors and are incredibly popular with families. This decision will help support the health and wellbeing of our families and whanau while they are enjoying their holiday. We know tobacco kills, so it makes sense.  This decision will also provide a positive role modelling behaviour for tamariki & youth who are staying at the Resort." - Holiday Parks New Zealand Chief Executive Fergus Brown

Napier City and Hastings District Councils decided to share a smokefree policy in 2016, in support of the 2025 goal. One of the purposes of the policy has been to reduce the impacts of smoking and tobacco use on non-smokers, including reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and de-normalisation of smoking.

Since the policy’s adoption both Councils have encouraged café premises with tables on publicly owned land to become smokefree, aka fresh air zones. All parks, playgrounds, sportsgrounds and reserves (apart from beach reserves), the Hastings City Square/Central Plaza, and bus stops, shelters and areas around bus signs or bus stop markings are smokefree.

All Council facilities are smokefree, and event organisers using Council facilities, parks, playgrounds, sportsgrounds and reserves are expected to make sure their events are also smokefree.

Kennedy Park also installed a free electric vehicle charger for guests earlier this year.

The more charging stations there are, the more likely people will be to hire electric vehicles when they go on holiday. It will also encourage drivers of EV vehicles to visit Napier, knowing there is a place to stay where they can recharge, says Mr Aflallo.

8 November 2019

Back to News | Kennedy Park Resort | Napier | Hawkes Bay