Hāpai Te Hauora Launches Blocktober - Aotearoa’s First VapeFree Month

Vaping is a growing public-health issue across Aotearoa – particularly for Māori – with the rapid uptake among rangatahi the biggest concern. To confront this challenge, Hāpai Te Hauora is launching Blocktober. This is the first dedicated vapefree month in Aotearoa with a rangatahi-focused campaign tackling the issue head on. The campaign will tour six regions this October, combining dance, tikanga Māori, and education to empower young people with knowledge about the harms of vaping and the tools to support informed hauora decisions.

Recent studies show an alarming 480,000 adults in Aotearoa now vape daily.^[1] To prevent this number from climbing further, we must invest in educating the next generation. This means equipping rangatahi with the knowledge and support to make healthier choices for their future.

At the heart of Blocktober is the idea that every choice we make shapes our hauora. BLOCK is an acronym guiding this kaupapa:

Who do our choices BENEFIT?
Does it enhance LIFE?
Does it align with ORANGA WHENUA/ORANGA TANGATA?
Am I making informed CHOICES?
What is my KAUPAPA that supports my wellbeing?

Blocktober 2025 marks the beginning of an annual national campaign to promote a healthier, vapefree future in Aotearoa.

Learn more at BlockTober

References

Nip, Janine, Richard Edwards, Janet Hoek, Andrew Waa, Jude Ball, and Michaela Pettie. “Vaping prevalence and trends: Important findings from 2023–24 NZ Health Survey.” Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa. Accessed November 29, 2024. https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/smoking-prevalence-and-trends-important-findings-202324-new-zealand-health-survey