July 28, 2022
Māori champions hailed as smoke-free bill moves ahead
A Māori public health expert says a proposed new anti-smoking law owes its existence to years of lobbying by Māori with a vision of a smoke-free Aotearoa.
The Smoke-free Environments Amendment Bill which had its first reading this week will cut the number of tobacco retail outlets, reduce nicotine content and ban tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008.
Andrew Waa, a research fellow at the University of Otago says Māori have led the fight for a smoke-free Aotearoa since the mid-2000s.
“I think it’s an amazing achievement for the nation. We’ve worked towards this for 15, 20 people, There have been lots of people like Hone Harawira, Tariana Turia, Shane Bradbrook and co who really championed getting this kaupapa through,” he says.
Dr Waa says 10 thousand Māori, have died from tobacco-related illnesses since the Smokefree Aotearoa campaign began – so this is a great step forward.