Working towards a smokefree | auahi kore future

Tobacco smoking is the main cause of premature death and disability in Aotearoa New Zealand. It results in almost 5000 deaths every year, killing more than half of those who use it.

New Zealand is moving towards the goal of a Smokefree Aotearoa by 2025 and this is supported by the National Public Health Service and Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health. A Smokefree Aotearoa means:

• that our children and grandchildren will enjoy tobacco-free lives;
• less than 5 percent of the population will be current smokers; and
• it will be very difficult to sell or supply tobacco.

Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health aims to reduce the tobacco-related harm experienced by the people of our region, by focusing on:

• supporting young people to remain smokefree;
• supporting people to quit smoking;
• encouraging Councils to create smokefree policies for public places such as playgrounds;
• helping organisations like workplaces, education settings, sports clubs and marae to create a smokefree culture;
• encouraging smokefree homes and cars; and
• enforcing smokefree rules and regulations including the Smokefree Environments Act.

Protect children from second-hand smoke

Second-hand smoke refers to the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke blown into the air by a person smoking. It contains more than 200 poisons, including 50 that are known to cause cancer.

Second-hand cigarette smoke is more dangerous for children than adults because:

• They breathe quicker and so breathe in more smoke;
• Their lungs are smaller and more delicate so are more easily damaged;
• Their immune systems are immature so they are more prone to becoming sick.

Children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer from glue ear, chest and respiratory infections, asthma and reduced lung growth.

• Find out more about how second-hand smoke can affect children.

Making your home and car smokefree

Winding the window down in the car or opening windows in the house will not remove all of the poisons from tobacco smoke. They will linger long after the smoke and smell have disappeared. Children are often not able to move away from second-hand smoke in a car or home.

Here are some easy steps to making your car and home smokefree:

• Make a rule that your car and home are smokefree at all times for everyone.
• Let other people know by placing smokefree stickers where everyone can see them.
• Ask your family and whānau to support you by not smoking in your home or car.
• Clean out your car ashtray and remove ashtrays from your home.
• Remove lighters from your home, as well as the car cigarette lighter.
• Swap your smokes for chewing gum when in the car. You can also put the smokes out of sight while tamariki are in the car.
• Be a positive role model and don’t smoke around children. This means they are less likely to grow up to be smokers themselves.
• Think about quitting if you currently smoke.

It is now illegal to smoke or vape in vehicles with kids present – whether the vehicle is moving or not.

• Order smokefree stickers from the Community Health Information Centre.
• Find out some reasons why you should quit smoking for your family, whānau and aiga (Quitline NZ).
• Download the Smokefree cars tool kit (Aspire Aotearoa).

A survey in South Canterbury showed that most people are in favour of smokefree cars. Over 90 percent of people in the survey said they would support a law that made smoking in a car carrying children illegal.

A West Coast survey showed that more than 90 percent of people had a smokefree home, and more than 80 percent had a smokefree car.

Auahi Kore and the health of Māori and Pacific people

Smoking rates are dropping nationally. However rates among Māori and Pacific people are still higher than for the total NZ population.

Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health is committed to addressing the particular issues that contribute to smoking in the Māori and Pacific communities.

Our staff promote and support smokefree and vapefree while working with Māori and Pacific communities in many settings including marae, churches, schools and workplaces.

Working for change through smokefree Networks

Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health also works with other organisations on joint projects and an annual celebration of World Smokefree Day (31st May).

Staff are involved with several smokefree networks, including the Smokefree Canterbury Coalition and the West Coast Tobacco Free Coalition.

Collaborative work by Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health with other agencies includes:

• encouraging workplaces and community organisations to support the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal;
• working with health professionals in hospitals and medical practices to ensure they are providing advice and support to patients who smoke;
• providing education and support on smoking cessation services;
• helping social service organisations to up-skill around addressing smokefree with their clients; and
• working with local Councils to promote more smokefree and vapefree public places.

Documents

• Pacific Peoples’ Nicotine-Free Futures: Understanding Pacific Peoples’ perceptions and practices of vaping (Matada Research 2023).
• Smoking status of daily vapers: New Zealand Health Survey 2017/18 to 2021/22 (Ministry of Health 2023).
• Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan – Auahi Kore Aotearoa Mahere Rautaki 2025 (Ministry of Health 2022).
• Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Regulations (Ministry of Health).
• Difference between perceived and actual daily smoking prevalence among New Zealand adults (Health Promotion Agency 2021).

• Tobacco and electronic cigarette use 2015/16: New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health 2020).
• Tobacco Use 2012/13: New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health 2014).
• Young people’s perceived access to tobacco (Health Promotion Agency 2013).
• Targeting Smokers: Better Help for Smokers to Quit (Ministry of Health 2011).
• ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey (annual).

Links

• World Smokefree May.
• Smoking (Ministry of Health).
• Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
• Hāpai Te Hauora.
• Te Whatu Ora – formerly Health Promotion Agency.
• Cancer Society.
• Smokefree Cars and Homes.
• Smokefree Schools.

Let everyone know your place is smokefree

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 requires all internal areas of workplaces, licensed premises and certain public enclosed premises to be Smokefree.

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 came into force in November 2020. It requires vaping to be prohibited in settings where smoking is not permitted.

Signage is used to communicate expectations and help people to know they are in a smokefree and vapefree area.

• The Community Health Information Centre (CHIC) provides free smokefree stickers and posters to show people that your workplace, home or building is smokefree.
  FREE vapefree and smokefree signage is now available for community groups and not-for-profit organisations in Canterbury.
• Te Whatu Ora provides metal smokefree signage for external areas such as the outside of buildings or fences. Small quantities are available free of charge.
  You can also download vapefree signage to get printed or made.
• Get information on local services to help you quit smoking.

Smokefree social housing environments can improve tenants’ health and wellbeing

Providing a smokefree environment is good for everyone. Having a smokefree policy protects non-smokers from the harm associated with second and third-hand smoke such as chemicals and toxins left behind on surfaces after exposure to smoke.

Smokefree policies can also increase current-smokers’ levels of motivation to stop, and can trigger quit attempts or lead to reduced consumption. Often attempts are less successful because they lack supportive environments and adequate resources.

The Smokefree Social Housing Toolkit provides information, templates and checklists to assist you to engage with your staff, partner organisations, and your tenants, as you move towards the goal of becoming smokefree.

• Download the Smokefree Social Housing Toolkit [1.36MB PDF].