October 06, 2015
Ngapuhi leads tobacco quitters
Ngapuhi are best when it comes to giving up tobacco, according to the latest census data.
The northern tribe saw a decrease of 9.9 percent in the number of regular smokers between censuses.
It was followed closely by Tuwharetoa and Tuhoe, but the smoking rate in those iwi is still higher than the national smoking rate for Maori of 32.7 percent.
For Tuhoe, the rate is 38.2 percent.
Ngai Tahu, Ngati Maniapoto and Ngapuhi have the smallest percentage of regular smokers.
Whanau Ora Iwi Leaders Forum spokesperson Naida Glavish says the good news is the number of Maori who identify as never smokers has increased.
She says a thriving iwi needs thriving descendants.
One iwi, Ngati Kahungunu, adopted a comprehensive strategy to rid tobacco from the lives of its people back in 2010, incorporating tobacco control strategies like cessation services as well as encouraging tikanga such as discouraging the carrying of tobacco on to sites such as marae and wahi tapu.
That strategy is now part of the Hawkes Bay District Health Board’s tobacco free policy.
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