The Government says focus should remain on driving down smoking numbers, rather than on the introduction of a ban on smoking in cars around children.

Children's Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft, is describing the Government's resistance to banning smoking in cars when children are present as "unfathomable."

His criticism follows the release of University of Otago research which showed one in five children were being exposed to secondhand smoke in cars, even though smoker numbers were falling.

Becroft struggled to understand why the Government was rebuffing calls to impose a ban, despite mounting evidence it was harmful to children.

"Frankly, I find it unfathomable ... it perplexes me and concerns me.

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"As Children's Commissioner, I have a responsibility and statutory duty to ask the Government to reconsider in as stronger terms as possible," Becroft said.

STUFF New Otago University research shows one in five children are exposed to smoking in cars.

"To me, it seems to be unarguable. I struggle with finding a logical reason why you wouldn't [ban it] ... we should be committed to de-normalising smoking around children.

"I think smoking in cars with children is utterly inconsistent with responsible parenting," Becroft added.

The former principal Youth Court judge wanted to meet with the relevant ministers to discuss the matter following September's general election.

ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF Children's Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft, is imploring the Government to reconsider its decision not to ban smoking in cars around children.

The Government has refused to buckle over its decision not to introduce a ban, despite receiving a petition in favour of one in October 2015.

It also rejected a Health Select Committee recommendation made in May calling for a law to be introduced.

Research led by Otago University Professor of Public Health, Richard Edwards, was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on Friday.

The study involved interviewing between 19,000 and 29,000 Year 10 students each year between 2006 and 2015. They were asked whether people had smoked around them in a car or van over the past week.

While the study found the number of children exposed to secondhand smoke in cars dropped from 30 per cent in 2006 to 18.5 per cent in 2013, the figures rose in 2015 to 19.8 per cent.

SUPPLIED Associate Health Minister, Nicky Wagner, says the Government should be focused on driving down smoker rates rather than introducing a ban on smoking in cars with children inside.

The findings also outlined the negative implications of smoking around children which included an increased risk of respiratory tract infections, asthma problems and Glue Ear.

Edwards claimed the findings contradicted the Government's line that current initiatives provided children with enough protection from the dangers of secondhand smoking in vehicles.

"Levels of secondhand smoke in cars are very high, making exposure in cars a particularly severe health hazard for children," Edwards said.

SUPPLIED A study led by University of Otago Professor of Public Health, Richard Edwards, found one in five New Zealand children are exposed to smoking in cars each week.

In response to the study's findings, Associate Health Minister, Nicky Wagner, argued the focus should remain on reducing smoker numbers, rather than a ban.

"The most effective way to protect children is to ensure parents and caregivers have the support they need to quit," Wagner said.

Smoking in cars when children were present was banned in the United Kingdom, states and provinces in Australia, Canada and the United States.

"New Zealand is falling well short of international best practice on protecting children from this completely avoidable harm," the findings read.



Opponents have raised concerns that enforcing a potential ban would increase the workload on police.

However, Becroft dismissed this and pointed to Australia where imposing the ban became part of their general policing duties carried out during checkpoints and whenever cars were stopped.

"Looking at the Australian model where it's done as part of overall road policing, it would be hard to see how it would significantly or detrimentally add to the police burden," Becroft added.