Are New Zealand schools smoke-free? Results from a national survey of primary and intermediate school principals

Aims. To document policies and practices developed by primary and intermedi ate schools in response to the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 and estimat e levels of staff support for legislation requiring totally smoke-free scho ols. Methods. Questionnaires were mailed to a random national sample of 10% of p rincipals of all primary and intermediate schools. Results. There were 209 questionnaires returned, a response rate of 87%. Wh ile 97% of principals reported that their school had a written policy for s moking, only 58% provided a copy. Only 49% of principals said that their sc hool smoking policy was prominently displayed. Most (82%) claimed that scho ol buildings were smoke-free, but only 44% said that this applied to buildi ngs and grounds. Overall, 62% considered that school staff would support le gislation that required schools to be totally smoke-free in buildings and g rounds. School policies ranged from total prohibition of smoking in school buildings and grounds to the provision of designated smoking areas for staf f. Conclusions. Compliance with current smoke-free legislation appears to be v ariable. Consistency in the meaning of smoke-free status in schools is lack ing. There appears to be good staff and parent support for making all schoo ls totally smoke-free. The best way to achieve universal, permanent and tot ally smoke-free status for New Zealand schools would be to amend current le gislation to include specific requirements for all school premises.