After a number of years without, Hāpai Te Hauora in collaboration with Māori Leaders in Tobacco Control, hosted a national Hui Māori with one focus point being the consultation document for a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan in Te Whanganui-a-Tara last month.
The event speakers included Dame Tariana Turia, Hone Harawira, Shane Bradbook, Cathering Manning, and Dame Aroha Reriti-Croft. In attendance we were honoured to have MP and Te Paati Māori co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, demonstrating their parties interest and commitment to this national smokefree goal, given the significant impact tobacco addiction has on Māori whānau, hapū and iwi. Apologies were received on the day from Associate Minister of Health, and Tobacco Control lead for the Government, Dr. Ayesha Verrall, who is an integral lever for action on this kaupapa.
This national hui Māori brought together our Māori leadership and influencers, stop smoking practitioners, public health staff, and other members of the workforce and community who are actively committed toward achieving a Tupeka Kore Aotearoa. It was great to have in attendance, the Hashtags Rangatahi advocacy roopu, enabling those in the room to hear rangatahi voices on what a Tupeka Kore Aotearoa looks like for them. We look forward to the next steps of action needed, moving the consultation process and the 5,000 voices who submitted into what an action plan looks like to them, and what we can all do and contribute to achieve our 2025 goal.
