Smoking quitters unite for challenge

Korowai Aroha Wero regional co-ordinator Toia Lucas is inviting teams of smokers to take part in the Wero smokefree competition. Photo/Andrew Warner

Te Arawa is being challenged to become smokefree in a national stop-smoking competition.

Wero runs for three months from March 1 with teams vying for the chance to win $5000 for a charity of their choice.

A team consists of 10 smokers who will appoint a coach to keep them motivated to quit and a support worker.

Toia Lucas of Korowai Aroha is the regional co-ordinator for Wero for Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa and Kawerau region. The competition is open to everyone not just Maori.

"Iwi should take part because they pretty much make up the populace of smoking," Mrs Lucas said.

"We're also targeting Maori women and young people but we want to see all of Te Arawa to be a smoke-free iwi."

Registration is now open for teams. Each member will need to submit a breath or saliva test to confirm they are a current smoker.

Their coach will update the smoking status of each member online each week and at the end of the three months, the leading teams will again be tested to confirm how many have stopped smoking and find the winner.

First prize is $5000 to a charity or community group of their choice with $500 prizes to the leading team after four and eight weeks as well as the team who used the Wero website the most.

There is also a pregnant mum prize category with spot awards given throughout the competition.

"We are really wanting to see kapa haka groups take part," Mrs Lucas said.

"We see them as being leaders in the community. Our mokopuna look up to the kapa haka teams and they have wide networks and people admire and respect how they perform on stage."

Mrs Lucas said the team's coach would be the contact person for her to help assist with providing gum or accessing advice from the Aukati Kaipaipa (Quit Smoking) team at Korowai Aroha.

"There's a lot of people who have wanted to give up and haven't and it's proven particularly with Maori and Pacific Islanders that they work well in a competition. They also like to work together in a group so that they can motivate each other and encourage one another to keep going."

Wero is a University of Auckland project, funded by the Ministry of Health Pathway to Smokefree New Zealand 2025 Innovation Fund.

It is free to take part and will run from March 1 to May 31.

Teams can register online at www.wero.me.