Thousands of smokers call Quitline

Nearly 10,000 smokers called the Quitline service in the first three months of the year.

The numbers are up by more than 1000 on the same period last year.

Research manager for The Quit Group Michele Grigg said the "significant increase" is the result of new television advertising campaigns, as well as public discussion and media attention about smoking.

"There is a lot of attention right now on the damage smoking is causing, especially to Maori and Pacific communities," she said.

The Quit Group's theme for this year's World Smokefree Day is stopping parents smoking in front of children.

It says children of smokers are twice as likely to smoke when they become adults as children of non-smokers are.

World Smokefree Day is May 31.

- NZPA