The museum yesterday announced smoke-free status for its buildings, including all areas within 3m of the outside of the museum, its cafe, car parks and the H.D. Skinner Annexe.
Human resources manager Gina Cavanagh said the move brought the museum in line with other businesses and organisations around the country, and supported the Government's smoking-reduction goals.
While the 3m extension of the area where smoking was not permitted did not extend to the DCC-owned Museum Reserve, it would mean non-smoking staff and visitors would not have to negotiate second-hand smoke from staff or visitors lighting up.
The museum's leadership team had been discussing the idea for some time and, while there were not many smokers left among staff, the areas used for smoking meant others were affected.
The museum also had a responsibility to provide a healthy work environment.
The decision follows a 2014 move by the University of Otago to make its campus smoke-free.
Signs supplied by the Southern District Health Board would be installed over the next few days, so members of the public were aware of the affected areas.
The SDHB would also provide resources for staff who wanted to quit smoking.
