media release

National Māori Public Health Organisation, Hāpai Te Hauora, calls on the new government to reconsider repealing critical, world-leading ,smokefree legislation. The proposed repeal by National, New Zealand First (NZ First), and ACT Government is an unconscionable blow to the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders. The recent announcement has generated calls by public health experts, the communities most affected by tobacco harm and the tobacco control sector to ensure the commitment remains for Aotearoa to achieve Smokefree2025.

In response to the New Zealand Government's recent coalition announcement, Hāpai Te Hauora's CEO Jason Alexander, expresses profound concern regarding the potential detrimental effects on Māori communities. Hāpai as the leading Māori public health organisation in Aotearoa has long advocated for bridging health inequities for Māori communities by allowing them to determine their own health priorities, and providing access to basic, culturally grounded health solutions.

National Māori Public Health organisation, Hāpai Te Hauora welcomes the implementation of a Smokefree Generation policy. Interim CEO Jason Alexandar of Hāpai Te Hauora says, ‘The world is looking to Aotearoa as we implement world leading Smokefree legislation.

It has been just over a year since Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, came into effect and yet as we lead into the election a running theme from some parts of the political sphere is to ask the question "Why hasn't the Māori Health Authority worked yet?" Declaring it a waste of money and that it must be abolished. It took at least 150 years of oppression to accrue the Māori health inequities we experience today. It is laughable to expect a single health entity with a pittance of the health budget to fix 150+ years of inequity in one single year, yet the calls persist.

Hapori will have a greater say about how alcohol is sold within their communities, as the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Bill passes its third reading. Māori Public Health experts at Hāpai Te Hauora acknowledge the passing of this legislation.

But, it falls short of the comprehensive, system-wide change needed to ensure whānau and hapori are protected from alcohol harm.

A youth-led campaign Protect Youth Breath aims to address reducing youth vaping harm launches the Later Vaper Arcade in South Auckland.

Hāpai Te Hauora interim CEO Jason Alexander says, ‘The Later Vaper Arcade is an interactive way to engage with our rangatahi, to get their curious minds focusing on their Hā (breath) and help highlight the potential harms vaping can have on them and their peers".

Māori Public Health experts, Hāpai te Hauora are calling for alcohol harm to be addressed and prioritised in the wake of alarming statistics released last week.

Te Wiki Hauora Tāne (Men’s Health Week) is here (12-18 June), and it’s an opportunity for the tāne in our lives to pause, reflect on their health and bring their whānau and loved ones along for the journey. 

Hāpai Te Hauora, a leading Maori Public Health organisation, commends the announcement by Minister Verrall to strengthen regulations on vaping in Aotearoa. This is a praiseworthy commitment to safeguarding the hauora of communities, rangatahi and tamariki.

As World Smokefree May draws to a close, Māori Public Health experts, Hāpai Te Hauora urge the government to maintain its Auahi Kore priority over the next two years. Hāpai Te Hauora acknowledges World Smokefree Day with Aotearoa taking significant strides towards a smokefree future, but there is much more to do.