Time to talk about alcohol and smokefree spaces

Earlier this year, more than 450 people shared their views through an online survey about how alcohol is managed in public places. Wāhi waipiro kore, or alcohol bans, help reduce alcohol-related harm and make public spaces safer for everyone.

The council has now reviewed these areas and wants your feedback on proposed changes. This is your chance to share what you think is reasonable when it comes to drinking in public. While many people enjoy a quiet drink outdoors, problems can arise if alcohol is abused.

There are currently 23 alcohol-free areas across the Far North, most with year-round bans that apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most areas in the district have alcohol bans that apply in locations such as parks, playgrounds, carparks and sports fields.

To address spaces identified this year by the public as being of concern, the review is recommending three new alcohol ban areas be declared at Lake Ngātu, Ōpua, and Waitangi. It also recommends amending five current ban areas at Kaikohe, Kaitāia, Kerikeri, Paihia, and Waipapa.

You can see an overview of the proposed Alcohol Ban areas here and if you want to see exactly which streets and carparks are included, you can open the detailed map here.

At the same time, the council is reviewing where smokefree and vapefree rules should apply to reduce negative public health impacts and litter. We want to hear your thoughts on whether council-owned and administered public spaces and council events should be free from smoking and vaping and, if so, the specific types of spaces that should be covered.

Read the full proposed document here.

Submissions on alcohol ban and smoke/vape free areas are open for one month, closing on 1 December 2025.

You can have your say by completing the short online survey on our consultation page or visiting any of our service centres and filling in a hard copy survey.