The country's second biggest landlord, the Wellington City Council, has completely banned smoking in one of its newest housing complexes.
The council, which is spending about $400 million - half of it government money - on upgrading its entire housing stock, says the ban at the Regent Park apartments in the suburb of Newtown will help protect the homes.
The councillor in charge of the social portfolio, Stephanie Cook, says the ban could be the first of many, provided it's practicable for the type of housing development.
The council has also started an education programme to help smokers in its 40 housing complexes to give up.
Another councillor, John Morrison, says he is disappointed the decision was made by council officers and says it should have been discussed by elected members.
