The Health Ministry is helping fund preliminary work on a bylaw targeting the rate of smoking in south Auckland.
The Auckland branch of the Cancer Society is working with an Auckland Council project called the Southern Initiative, aimed at transforming lives in the area's poorest communities.
Southern Initiative general manager John McEnteer said the two bodies planned to draft a bylaw that could be adopted by the council.
He said the project was working with the community to look at how to create something that might work for south Auckland and also other areas in New Zealand.
Mr McEnteer said south Auckland had the highest smoking rates in the city.
