Woodend School excited about vaping changes
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Woodend School’s student leaders are excited about changes to vaping legislation.
In the changes announced on June 6, the Government said it would put a stop to vape shops opening within 300 metres of a school or marae.
It would also cut down on disposable vapes, restrict descriptions on product flavours, and prohibit enticing names such as "cotton candy" and "strawberry jelly donut".
Principal Andrew Retallick said the announcement by Health Minister Ayesha Verrall showed the stance by his student leaders in speaking out had paid off.
Student leader Jasper Rosewarne launched a petition earlier this year, after learning a vape shop had opened across the road from the school over the summer holidays, with the support of Retallick and the other student leaders.
"Jasper shared with us the government’s moves around vaping and we had a good discussion," Retallick said.
"It shows having the article in the paper and being on TV news made a difference.
"We were really happy when we learned of the announcement - it is a good start."
Jasper’s father, North Canterbury-based Labour List MP Dan Rosewarne, said having organisations like Woodend and Belfast Schools and the Cancer Society speaking out, made it easier to make a case to the Health Minister for change.
"It is a good shot in the arm for the kids at Woodend School," he said.
But Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney said the changes were too little, too late.
"The shops are already there. Are they removing them?"
Kearney also questioned the restricting of flavours.
"Why do we need flavours? If it is a vehicle to stop smoking there does not need to be a flavour."
The Australian government recently announced a ban on recreational vaping, while the United Kingdom is considering a crack down.
The New Zealand government has ruled out following suit, but Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has directed the Health Minister to bring some suggestions to Cabinet.
For now the government’s priority was on the Smokefree 2025 goal, focused on tobacco.
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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62.7% Summer
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35.9% Winter
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
What word sums up 2024, neighbours?
If 2020 was the year of lockdowns, banana bread, and WFH (work from home)....
In one word, how would you define 2024?
We're excited to see what you come up with!
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