Elders have mixed response to smoking bans on marae

Anti-smoking activist and broadcaster Hohepa Luke at Waatea Marae, where smoking is still allowed. Picture / Greg Bowker

A Maori Party call for tribal elders to push for a smoking ban on marae has drawn a mixed response from Maori leaders.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira has urged kaumatua to push for marae to become smoke free as a way of combating disproportionately high Maori smoking rates.

Almost half of all Maori smoke, with smoking rates among Maori women some of the highest in the world.

Mr Harawira said too many kaumatua condoned cigarette smoking on the marae in the belief that to ban it would discourage young people from visiting.

"Our people are great workers, but they would be even better workers who lived healthier, happier and longer if they didn't smoke."

At the weekend Te Rangimarie Marae in Christchurch became the first marae in the South Island to declare itself smoke free.

"I hope that kaumatua throughout the country look to Te Rangimarie for inspiration and not feel guilty about telling their young ones they can't smoke on the marae grounds," Mr Harawira said.

The call has won cautious support from Ngapuhi chairman Sonny Tau, who said most Northland marae were smoke free.

However, any moves to ban smoking should involve all marae members, he said.

"The call must be made with caution, with an end result of working towards it rather than just implementing it. I support his korero, because of the high smoking statistics among Maori."

Spokesman for Nga Whare Waatea Marae in Mangere Willie Jackson said that while he supported initiatives to stub out high Maori smoking rates, he was opposed to being issued instructions by politicians.

"Hone has taken a hard, and probably the right, line. However reality must kick in, you have to respect people's rights."

Mr Jackson said many marae workers and elders smoked and it would not be right to expect them to go out to the road to smoke.

Tainui chief executive Hemi Rau said many Tainui marae were smoke and alcohol free.

"While tribal leaders can give an indication, at the end of the day it is up to each marae committee to make the final call."

Of Auckland's three main marae, Orakei, Waatea and West Auckland's Hoani Waititi Marae, only the last is smoke free.

Mr Harawira launched a campaign targeting tobacco companies this year and called for a ban on all cigarettes.

The Smokefree Environments Amendment Bill, past in 2003, banned smoking in schools, bars and other workplaces.


Te Kai Hikareti

* In 2002, 49 per cent of Maori smoked, compared with 22 per cent of non-Maori.

* Maori, in particular the youth, were more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke at home compared with non-Maori.

* Almost a third of all Maori deaths, 650 to 1000 a year, are caused by smoking.

* Maori have one of the highest smoking rates in the world.

* 2004 research found 69 per cent of Maori had visited a marae in the past year.