Health promoters are telling smokers to think about the impact their habit has on their family as an incentive to kick the habit this year.
The New Zealand World Smokefree Day message "it's about whanau", centres around protecting future generations by not exposing them to second-hand smoke or passing dangerous habits on to them.
Internationally, World Smokefree Day is known as World No Tobacco Day, and is celebrated annually on May 31. The global initiative aims to raise awareness around the health burden of smoking and reducing exposure to second-hand smoke especially to children.
The day is also aimed at non-smokers to encourage and support whānau to quit smoking. The protection of children and future generations is central to the smoke free kaupapa.
Increasing tobacco tax and banning the display of cigarettes at retailers have proven successful in lowering the rates of smokers in New Zealand. Since 2010, the proportion of people smoking in New Zealand has fallen to a record low 17 per cent. A total drop of 23 per cent over that period.