Major shifts are happening in the wider health sector with the establishment of a new Maori Health Authority and Public Health Agency. These are two key bodies that will lead on health outcomes in a new way that Hapai Te Hauora have seen themselves occupy for many years.
Tobacco Control in the current context is an exciting space to be in. A new Associate Minister of Health has prioritised the goal of Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 which has resulted in a reinvigoration in the tobacco control sector.
The National Tobacco Control Advocacy service is the only Ministry of Health funded advocacy service in Aotearoa. In the last 6 months we have been able to uplift over 3,000 Māori and Pacific community voices in a meaningful way so that they are heard. Our job continues to ensure their input into the government’s public consultations are considered and translated into healthy public health policies and programmes.
What we do
Our Tobacco Control Advocacy service utilises relationships and key influencers to spur increased ownership, and a positive view of Smokefree 2025.
We seek to enable the identification, delivery and promotion of effective public health and advocacy interventions that will create, strengthen and action positive Smokefree policies.
Part of our role is to increase public and media understanding of what will get us to 2025.
Four objectives for the tobacco control advocacy team are:
- To reduce smoking initiation
- To increase quitting
- To reduce the social, economic and health harms of tobacco
- To reduce inequalities
Māori and Pacific communities are very important to our work so we often seek their advice and leadership. We also facilitate engagement between a wide range of the following groups:
Policy makers, decision makers/influencers that may include, Parliamentary Committees, the Ministry of Health, District Health Boards, NGOs, Primary Health Organisations, Corporate decision makers, Media, Stop Smoking Service Providers, Council, Māori and Pacific Providers, Iwi, Local and national businesses, Research and academic institutions, Territorial local authorities and Crown agencies to progress Smokefree 2025.
Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan
The Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan was finally released in December 2021, following many years of hard mahi for all advocacy organisations. The Action Plan provides a succinct, multifaceted agenda that involves ‘unapologetically bold’ measures to achieve Aotearoa’s goal of becoming smokefree.
To read more about the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan and its six focus areas, follow the link below:
Download: Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan
Tobacco Control Update E-newsletter
Hāpai Te Hauora as the National Tobacco Control Advocacy Service produce a monthly newsletter containing updates on Tobacco Control locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, as well as information about conferences and events relating to tobacco control.
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Tobacco Control Update archive:
Tupeka Kore Aotearoa National Hui
After a number of years without, Hāpai Te Hauora in collaboration with Māori Leaders in Tobacco Control, hosted a national Hui Māori with one focus point being the consultation document for a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Tala Pasifika
Tala Pasifika currently are a network of Pacific health professionals who work closely with their communities to continue raising the profile of Smokefree 2025. Members have led both national, regional and local fono to advance Pacific health in contribution to addressing the adverse health outcomes many families are facing.
Much of this work is delivered in partnership with organisations and groups who are well-funded to deliver outcomes for Pacific, Tala Pasifika provide another mechanism to ensure quality engagement with Pacific people.
Tala Pasifika have a committed strong membership who have supported this work for over a decade.
The Pan Pacific Fono held on 13th July was an important event hosted by Te Aho o te Kahu (Cancer Control Agency) and Tala Pasifika. Over 100 Pasifika experts, researchers, health and community workers and volunteers were able to gather to "Reconnect, talanoa (share) and learn."
Highlights
31 May, 2024
The last few days of May marks the end of Smokefree May activities, culminating in a global day of recognition - World No Tobacco Day on May 31st.
1 May, 2024
Farewelling Tobacco: Auahituroa Traveling Art exhibition launches Smokefree May
Hāpai Te Hauora is kicking off Smokefree May with Auahitūroa, a Traveling Art Exhibition bidding farewell to the entrenched tobacco culture in Aotearoa with eulogies presented by current politician
28 February, 2024
Hāpai Te Hauora are long time advocates of the Smokefree legislation knowing the benefits it would have had for everyone, particularly Māori and this has created a lot of uneasiness for Chief Operating Officer, Jason Alexander.
27 February, 2024
Not all of New Zealand on track for a Smokefree 2025
Hāpai Te Hauora, Aotearoa’s largest Māori Public Health organisation warns that Māori will not reach the 5% target for a Smokefree 2025.