Holistic wellbeing better path to smokefree

Addressing wider issues in Māori women's lives is the key to getting wāhine Māori to stop smoking, rather than berating them for lighting up.

That's the conclusion on a new report that looked at new ways to help young Māori women to successfully quit smoking.

Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa says the fact Māori women, aged 18 to 24, have the highest rate of smoking in New Zealand is a huge concern to the ministry.

This report evaluates four prototype initiatives, and shows addressing some of the wider issues in women's lives was more helpful in getting them to stop smoking than emphasising smoking cessation as the most important goal.

She says the 'holistic wellbeing' approach used by Turuki Healthcare in South Auckland not only helped the wāhine to quit smoking but also had a much broader and positive impact on their lives and that of their children.

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