News

March
22
Thu

Home environment influences rangatahi smoking initiation

A recent study has found that exposure to smoking in the home has become more strongly associated with when adolescents start smoking.

March
22
Thu

South Auckland community ‘success’ in preventing a 5th off-licence opening

Hāpai Te Hauora and Alcohol Healthwatch are applauding the decision by a bottle store applicant in Takanini, South Auckland, not to proceed with their application to open a new bottle store in the neighbourhood. Had the bottle store gone ahead it would have increased the number of off-licences in the community to five.

March
19
Mon

Tobacco control policies under the spotlight

The Ministry of Health will be commissioning a review of the impact of tobacco tax increases. This will include specific analysis of the existing policies, their effectiveness for Māori and Pacific people and how tobacco tax correlates with outcomes like crime and financial loss.

March
14
Wed

Spotlight On ... Mary-Kaye Wharakura - Lizzie Strickett talks to Mary-Kaye Wharakura

"Spotlight On ..." - As a way of highlighting and celebrating members of our Tobacco Control Whanau, The Tobacco Control Update, is proud to bring you "Spotlight On ..." 
We have an amazing collection of people working in all aspects of Tobacco Control, all making  a contribution to our governments goal of Smokefree Aotearoa 2025. 
This series of interviews will give you some insight in the many and varied members of our whanau and introduce you their work, passions and motivation in doing what they do. 

March
14
Wed

Plain cigarette packaging has arrived in New Zealand

From today New Zealand legislation prevents the tobacco industry from using branding on their cigarette packaging. This marks the first day of a 12 week ‘wash out’ period in cleansing the market of existing stock and introducing plain packaging. These changes will mean tobacco packets will be the same standard dark brown/green colour as seen in Australia and the U.K; graphic pictures and health warnings will be enlarged to cover at least 75% of the front of tobacco packs, and all tobacco company marketing imagery will be removed.

March
13
Tue

Reflection: NGO Health and Disability Sector National Forum by Adrian Te Patu

At the Ministry of Health sponsored NGO Health and Disability Sector National Forum in Wellington last week, Health Minister Dr David Clark offered the two hundred health and disability sec

March
9
Fri

Media Release: Study suggests targeted smoking cessation interventions needed among Māori healthcare

A recent study has sought to understand smoking trends among nurses and doctors in New Zealand and has identified disparities between Māori and non-Māori healthcare workers. The Otago University study, led by Professor Richard Edwards and colleagues, found that by 2013 doctors and the majority of nursing sectors had achieved the Smokefree 2025 goal of less than 5% smoking prevalence. However, the smoking rate of Māori nurses in particular remained high.

March
8
Thu

Reflection : Whānau Ora, Mokopuna Ora by Momi Tolentino

If I had to pick one word to describe my experience in Palmy, I would choose the word inspiring. I was so grateful to be in a room full of people who are looking after the wellbeing of our past, present, and future generations through their different mahi. The mātauranga shared at this particular conference resonated so well with not only myself, but, I believe, the whole SUDI team that attended. 

March
7
Wed

Māori public health organisation supports Ministry of Health in trial against Philip Morris

This week the Ministry of Health is taking tobacco giant Philip Morris to court. The Ministry of Health has laid charges against the New Zealand subsidiary of the multinational tobacco company relating to the importation and selling of its tobacco sticks known as HEETS.

March
6
Tue

Reflection: The Centre of Addiction Research Symposium by Elizabeth Strickett

Kaimahi from Hapai te Hauora had the opportunity last week to attend the Addiction symposium held at Auckland University. This was an opportunity to provide a forum for addiction researchers from all disciplines to meet and share their work, and discuss issues of common interest to addiction researchers.