MidCentral DHB medical officer of health Dr Robert Weir says World Smokefree Day is about empowering our communities, especially our Māori and Pacific communities, to lead healthier, longer lives and support their whānau to do the same.
"All of us, especially young people, are influenced by those around us, so if we don't see people smoking, we are less likely to smoke ourselves," Dr Weir says.
Aotearoa has come a long way in its smokefree journey. Banning tobacco sponsorship and advertising, outlawing the sale of single cigarettes and recent plain packaging laws have all helped reduce smoking rates.
However, evidence shows Aotearoa at its current rate will not achieve its aspirational goal of becoming a smokefree country by 2025 without a concerted effort, Dr Weir says.
"More and more New Zealanders are becoming smokefree or not taking up smoking at all."
World Smokefree Day was created by the World Health Organisation in 1987. In other countries it is known as World No Tobacco Day.
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