Tools and resources for Smokefree workplaces

Indoor workplaces must be smokefree and vapefree

Smoking and vaping is regulated by the by the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 and its amendments. Under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 all indoor workplaces must be smokefree and vapefree. This includes:

• offices
• restaurants and bars
• warehouses and factories
• break rooms
• taxis
• internal areas of trains and ships
• prisons
• travel terminals and passenger lounges.

Find out more about the law on the Ministry of Health website.

Ministry of Health — Regulation and legislation

Smokefree and vapefree signs, posters and stickers

Signs, posters and stickers are available free of charge for workplaces to order or download. Displaying these prominently helps meet your legal obligations and shows your commitment to a smokefree workplace. 

Customisable workplace signage

These signs are available as downloadable templates that you can customise with up to three organisation logos. The templates are available in English and te reo Maōri.

HealthEd — Workplace signage template, English

HealthEd — Workplace signage template, te reo Māori

Smokefree / vapefree signs

These are available as downloads in multiple sizes and colourways. There are English and te reo Māori versions for all. 

Smokefree / vapefree signs

Hākohu kore / Auahi kore signs

Stickers and stencils

Stencils and stickers are available in several formats to order for your organisation.

Smokefree stencils – Large

Smokefree stencils – Small

Smokefree stickers

Breakfree to Smokefree posters

Print and display these posters which have a QR code that links to stop smoking support services.

Breakfree to Smokefree workplace poster

Outdoor areas or other designated spaces

Many workplaces go beyond the basic requirements by making outdoor areas, or other designated spaces smokefree. This helps to:

• support people who are trying to quit smoking
• eliminate the risks associated with secondhand smoke
• prevent smoking-related fires.

HealthEd — Smokefree outdoor dining sign

Develop a smokefree workplace policy

Smokefree workplaces: A whole-of-organisation approach

This resource outlines a whole-of-organisation approach to creating smokefree workplaces, aimed at enhancing overall effectiveness. It includes practical guidance and example actions across three key areas of change: organisational, environmental, and individual levels.

Smokefree policy builder

Creating a smokefree policy is the clearest way for an employer to introduce the smokefree message to the workplace and support health and wellbeing.  

There are easy-to-use policy templates for businesses on Business.govt.nz. You can use the Health and Wellbeing policy template to develop a customised smokefree policy for your workplace.

Business.govt.nz — Smokefree at work

Business.govt.nz — Health and wellbeing policy

Vaping in the Workplace

Vaping can be an effective tool if someone is trying to stop smoking and other methods such as nicotine replacement therapy did not work for them. If you have an employee in this situation, encourage them to seek support through a stop smoking service or Quitline. These services can support people to stop smoking using vaping, and then to stop vaping.

The best thing for health is to be both smokefree and vapefree.

Vaping is not for people who do not smoke, and it is not for children or young people. Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it is not harmless. Vaping can affect lung health and the long-term health effects are not yet known.

Learn more about vaping to quit