Rotorua smokers given fruit as incentive | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Waiariki Institute of Technology student smokers are being treated to free, fresh fruit in a bid to encourage them to protect others from second-hand smoking.

The fruit is to try to persuade smokers to keep to designated areas. The initiative has prompted some smokers to try giving up.

Waiariki's occupational health nurse Carol Morgan came up with the idea as a proactive way to connect with smokers instead of just telling them to move.

"I thought giving out fresh fruit like bananas and oranges would be a healthy reward for the students who chose to use the designated smoking areas," she said.

The student union (WITSA) also gave out vouchers for the Deli Marche café on campus.

Mrs Morgan said the initiative had been running for a month and she had received positive feedback.

"Several people have asked for patches and have participated in smoking cessation," she said.

Her main aim was to help students give up smoking, protect people from second-hand smoke and promote a healthy and safe environment at Waiariki.

Journalism student Dianna Lee Raukawa Doughty, who is trialling nicotine gum, said she thought the initiative was great and a positive way of encouraging students to stop smoking and make healthier lifestyle changes.

"I think it's awesome, especially with the price of good kai these days. It's another great incentive to make positive choices as a student about my health, and free vouchers are always a bonus.

"Waiariki has also made gum and patches more accessible and convenient to me by offering them on campus. Alongside self-determination, encouragement and support are key to successfully giving up any bad habit," she said.

The free fruit at Waiariki initiative was trialed for a month in the lead up to World Smoke Free Day on May 31.

The institute celebrated World Smoke Free Day by making all of the Waiariki campus' in Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo totally smoke free.

Mrs Morgan said quit smoking posters and displays were put up all over the Mokoia campus and the Lakes Auahi Kore Smoke Free Coalition spent the day at the institute handing out patches, gum, lip gloss, lollies and giving advice to students.