Cancer Society of New Zealand

Smokefree Otago & Southland Region

Our Smokefree Work

The Otago & Southland Division of the Cancer Society is actively involved in promoting Smokefree. Our primary areas of work are:

• Out of Sight, Out of Mind
  Protect Our Children from Tobacco Marketing. The Cancer Society is working to extinguish one of the last bastions of tobacco advertising allowed in New Zealand - tobacco displays in shops. Currently cigarettes are openly promoted behind the counter or at the check out in thousands of dairies, petrol stations, and supermarkets around the country despite clear evidence that these displays make young people more likely to become smokers. In the Otago region the Cancer Society has been working with young people (about 75% support a ban on tobacco displays) and other local community groups to raise awareness of this important issue and encourage supporters to take action and ask for tobacco products to be put under the counter. We have donated the Cancer Society DVD 'Out of Sight - Out of Mind: Protect Our Children from Tobacco Marketing' to libraries in Otago and encouraged our supporters to write to their local MPs. Link to www.protectourchildren.org.nz
• Smokefree Councils
  Together with our partners we are working to encourage local Councils to make their parks and outdoor spaces smokefree including playgrounds. Link to www.smokefreecouncils.org.nz
• Smoking Cessation
  Encouraging more quit attempts more often. Link to www.quit.org.nz and www.txt2quit.org.nz
• Smokefree Homes and Cars
  Quit smoking for the ones you love - link to http://www.QuitSmoking.org.nz

The Cancer Society works collaboratively with other agencies through local Smokefree Networks including the following:

Smokefree Otago
Smokefree Muruhiku
National Cancer Society Smokefree Information

For more information about the Smokefree work of the Otago & Southland Division of the Cancer Society contact Penelope Scott pen@cansoc.org.nz