Ana Apatu: Smokefree message getting across

Ana Apatu

Zoe Hawke is in the Te Aranga community garden chatting to Gary and me about the Orakei, Auckland community garden. She is clearly impressed with our garden and on a day like today - sunny, no wind and with the Ruahine Range in the background - it would be hard not to be impressed. She says she does not really want to move on to her next meeting but would rather stop for a while and enjoy the garden.

Zoe is the Kaiwhakahaere, National Maori Tobacco Control leadership with Hapai Te Haurora Maori Public Health based in Auckland. We discuss her smokefree work as she is here to provide a submission to the Hastings-Napier subcommittee from both councils regarding the development of a joint smokefree policy. This week is a big week for smokefree Hawke's Bay.

Becoming smokefree is one of the most important things we can do to be healthy. One in two who smoke will die from a tobacco-related illness. Maori are over-represented in the smoking statistics but there is much to celebrate. Iwi have had a significant drop in smoking rates, census data shows. Ngati Kahungunu are seen as leaders in this area with their own Tupeka Kore (Tobacco Free) Strategy. An example of Maori leadership across the country. Their work is reflected in the census data which demonstrates Ngati Kahungunu iwi as having one of the lowest rates of regular smokers when comparing to other iwi.

Part of the success of supporting people to quit is understanding how addictive tobacco is. Blame and shame does not work - supporting people to quit will. On average, it takes 12-15 attempts to eventually quit.

There is still work to be done, though, with the overall rates of smoking being twice that of non-Maori. Increasing taxation year on year will assist but some with their addiction will cut back or spend less in other areas. Much can be done at a local level. Having smokefree inner-city areas and events will denormalise smoking and support those trying to quit. One trigger to smoke is seeing someone light up.

The argument of the right of smokers is quickly dealt with by the rights of those who do not smoke. The evidence of second-hand smoke - the harm associated with breathing in smoke from those around us to, the recent evidence of harm from third-hand smoke - a child sucking on something where someone has been smoking and toxic smoke substance being attached to something such as an implement or clothing.

But let's celebrate this significant gain. Every gain is to be recognised and celebrated. The other announcement that is pleasing within the smoke-free world is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement which highlights built-in protections to prevent private corporations from suing governments over anti-tobacco regulations.

This victory comes after years of pressure from a vast coalition of health groups and pro-health legislators, including Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). This victory protects the right of governments to regulate tobacco without fear of expensive lawsuits. Apparently the tobacco industry, with its allies in the US Chamber of Commerce and other groups, fought hard to ensure that overseas marketing of tobacco products - the only consumer product to kill when used as intended - could continue unabated. Yes, the only consumer product to kill when used as intended.

This is a major victory for public health but more at a local level.

The Hawke's Bay DHB is working on its smokefree plan. The intention is to engage with smokers and ex-smokers to get their thoughts on the influencing factors of why they started smoking, what motivates people to and not to smoke, what messages work and how services should be designed to support those to quit smoking.

While this seems to be obvious to most - we often do not engage with those most affected.

So for those whanau members you know who smoke, an ongoing gentle reminder to make a quit attempt might appear to be nagging but it is actually being caring. It's never too late to quit. The health benefits from quitting smoking start immediately.

-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.