January 01, 2014
Price rise not enough to stop Maori smoking
Maori anti-smoking advocates are concerned yesterday’s 10 percent hike in tobacco prices isn’t high enough to make a dent in Maori smoking rates.
Zoe Hawke from Te Ara Haa Ora says changes in excise tax need to be accompanied by greater cessation support.
She says proposed legislation to introduce unbranded packaging for tobacco products and ban smoking in cars will also help Maori to quit.
She says health, family and money were the three main motivators when smokers decided to quit.
Quitline reported a surge in activity ahead of the change.
Chief executive Paul Snowden says January is usually a busy time for the service as people try to act on New Year’s resolutions to quit.
"The cost of tobacco is a big issue for people and when it goes up it prompts hundreds of smokers to seek help to quit,” she says.
Smoking tobacco is a powerful addiction, a creeping death that steals lives and robs families of health and well-being.
It’s estimated 600 Maori a year die from smoking-related diseases.
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