When it comes to quitting Northlanders are the tops - quitting smoking that is.
Figures from last year's Census show that Northlanders are leading the national trend of stopping smoking, with the region having the highest proportion of people who had given up smoking, with 28.1 per cent of the population (or 29,400 people) identifying themselves as ex-smokers in last year's census. This compared with 22.9 per cent nationally.
As well, the proportion of adults in the region who said they were regular smokers dropped from 25.7 per cent in the 2006 Census to 19.1 per cent in 2013, a decrease of 5853 people.
Among people in Northland aged 15-19 years, the proportion who regularly smoke dropped from 24.8 per cent in 2006 to 14.2 per cent in 2013. That means there were 1119 fewer smokers in this age group in the region, a decrease of 49.1 per cent since 2006.
Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable death and disease in New Zealand and news of fewer smokers has pleased the region's health boss.
Northland DHB CEO Nick Chamberlain said smoking significantly contributes to health inequalities in Northland.
Dr Chamberlain said Northland DHB was committed to reducing the harm caused to the people of Northland by smoking. "It is a credit to all healthcare providers that the rate of smokers in Northland is in decline.
"We take every opportunity we can to encourage people to quit within the hospital and the community."
The DHB was setting an example by making its hospitals smokefree.
In the hospitals, smokefree hospital facilitator Jan Marshall supports all aspects of smokefree work relating to hospital services and campuses.
Ms Marshall also provides training, system support, feedback and advice to clinical staff to enable them to address smoking with all patients that smoke using the ABC of Smoking Cessation.