World Smokefree day all about wh?nau

World Smokefree Day is on Friday with the key theme of this year's event is 'Quit Now it's about wh?nau'.

The purpose of World Smokefree Day is to celebrate being Smokefree as well as raise awareness about the financial and health costs of smoking (including second-hand smoke), and seek help from  the local community who are always available to help people to quit.

Dr Brad Novak, the Smokefree Medical Officer of Health for Auckland Regional Public Health Service says that it's a great opportunity to quit on May 31 and make a positive change for yourself and your wh?nau'.

"It's not always easy to quit", says Dr Novak, "as we have seen through our Pacific Quit programme and the numerous health promotion work we are involved in with District Health Board's and the community. However with support it really can be achieved and bring so many benefits for you and your whanau."

Anamalia was 16 when she started smoking and had tried to quit a number of times on her own.

At 36 she was introduced to the Pacific Quit Smoking Service - they visited her at her home, provided her with tips to help quit, free patches and lots of encouragement.

Anamalia set a quit date and hasn't looked back:

"I didn't think I could do it, but I did - I quit smoking!"  

She has now been a non-smoker for six months and says she feels healthier, happier, and doesn't get stressed as easily over the kids.

She says that her family are very happy and her children are her support group.

"They watch me when we go shopping to make sure I am not tempted to buy cigarettes.  I hope to be a positive role model for them."

She's also got an extra $40 a week which will help send her kids to camp.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Aotearoa, and although more kiwis are giving up smoking than ever before, 5,000 still die from it every year.

Part of World Smokefree Day is to work towards the national target of a Smokefree Aotearoa by 2025, which includes making a wide range of environments (parks, public facilities and spaces) smokefree.

There are lots of smokefree events and activities happening around Auckland for World Smokefree Day, including a smokefree party at Mangere Town Centre, which became the first NZ Smokefree Town Centre in 2007.

For more information on becoming smokefree see http://www.arphs.govt.nz/health-information/alcohol-tobacco/arphs-smokefree or call Quitline on 0800 778778.

Information on the Pacific Quit Smoking Service is also available on this webpage or call Iutita on (09) 623 4600 x 27718.

For a calendar of events for World Smokefree Day click on the World Smokefree Day 31 May link on the above webpage.