Making a point: Blenheim School year 6 pupils, from left, Jeanne Verdeau, Olivia Liddicoat, William Sabiston and

Tamarua Rawhiti after making a presentation to Marlborough District Council for a smoke-free society.

Photo: ANDREW VOERMAN

Pupils perform message

By ANDREW VOERMAN

A group of year 6 Blenheim School pupils treated the Marlborough District Council to a song and dance during hearings on the draft annual plan on Wednesday last week. Four SmokeFree advocates from the school along with SmokeFree Marlborough health promoter Felicity Spencer gave a presentation to the council to promote their

goal of a smoke-free New Zealand. The pupils pointed out that smoking is, bad for your lungs, bad for your family and asked smokers to throw [their] smokes away. If you dont start smoking, then you dont have to quit, they said. The students finished with a song and dance routine based on the line giving up is hard to do, and left posters with anti-smoking slogans in the council chambers.

Cr Peter Jerram said the students message was inspiring. Smokefree Marlborough is asking the council to develop a smokefree policy for all of its assets. Felicity said she hoped the presentation motivated the council to take the steps needed to achieve the Governments goal of a smokefree New Zealand by 2025. Cr Graeme Taylor said the council would keep working on those steps.