A free event is being held at Mangere Arts Centre on Tuesday September 30 from 6-9pm to celebrate the kick start of Stoptober - a national stop smoking month encouraging New Zealanders to stop smoking.
The event will see Che Fu, a pioneer of hip hop in New Zealand, performing at Ng? Tohu o Uenuku in support of the campaign to help people kick the habit in October.
It's all part of a nation-wide call to action.
Che Fu will be joined on stage by South Tamaki Primary School's Ukulele group.
The Stoptober red ball will be there alongside food stalls and other live performances, including Sua E Siva.
Locals who want to tell their quitting success stories will have a chance to share on stage and encourage others to sign up to Stoptober.
Prizes are available for those with the best stories of quitting.
The Che Fu event at the Mangere Arts Centre is just one of many events happening throughout New Zealand in the lead-up to the start of Stoptober on October 1st.
Events in Mangere have already seen Sid Diamond and hip hop dance crews turn out in support of the cause.
The Stoptober campaign is targeting all smokers in New Zealand, providing support and assistance to encourage as many smokers as possible to sign up to quit and stay smoke-free for October.
Clinical evidence shows that smokers who manage to stop smoking for a month are five times more likely to quit, and smokers who use support to stop smoking are much more likely to stay Smokefree.
Shonagh Lindsay, Stoptober campaign's national co-ordinator says the campaign is doing really well so far, with a great number of sign-ups on the Stoptober website.
Stoptober is being funded under the Ministry of Health's Pathway to Smokefree 2025 Innovation Fund and run by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and Inspiring Limited, a provider of smoking cessation support.
Throughout Stoptober, people wanting to stop smoking will be provided with daily emails and texts, and a free Stoptober app downloadable from the website, which has stress-release support in Te Reo Maori and English.
The website will also direct them towards free stop smoking treatment, which includes face-to-face, online and phone counselling.
Smokers ready to stop smoking should sign up at www.stoptobernz.co.nz
To post that you plan to attend visit our Stoptober Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StoptoberNZ