February 11, 2019
Car smoking ban puts Māori mums in spotlight
A Māori public health researcher says outlawing smoking in cars with children carries considerable risk for Māori and especially Māori women.
Marewa Glover says the law change planned for later this year is handing over to the police a job that should be done by public health.
Imposing fines on smokers is unfair when the Pākehā smoking rate is down to 13 percent, almost a third of the Māori rate.
"But for Māori and if you look at just Māori women at the age of our young mums, say 18 to 35, it's not just 33 percent, it's up around 38 percent, 45 percent, and almost 50 percent while pregnant," Dr Glover says.
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