Partnership keeps momentum for smokefree environments
The journey towards a smokefree Hutt Valley is continuing to build momentum thanks to strong partnerships with Hutt Valley District Health Board and members of the local Tobacco Control Group.
For the third year, Hutt Valley District Health Board has contributed funding for a Smokefree Systems Innovator to sit within the Healthy Families Hutt Valley team. The Smokefree Systems Innovator works alongside our communities, businesses, key settings and prevention partners to increase smokefree environments and support smokefree activities across Te Awa Kairangi and beyond.
Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Boards Population Health Programme Manager, Anita Taggart says, “The launch of the Government’s Smokefree Action Plan in November 2021 and the renewal of the contract between Hutt Valley District Health Board and Healthy Families Hutt Valley was well-timed, enabling the incoming Smokefree Systems Innovator to continue working in partnership across the tobacco system to achieve a smokefree Hutt Valley”.
The recently released Smokefree Action Plan has created new energy and levers to help create a smokefree generation by increasing the number of children and young people who remain smokefree. Smokefree environments contribute to raising a smokefree generation by making smoking less visible and therefore less normal for our young people.
Top on the priority list for the Smokefree Systems Innovator is to work alongside the Hutt Valley Tobacco Control Group and community leaders to gather insights and use these insights to inform community led solutions.
Solutions that are community led and insight driven are more likely to create impact locally and nationally. There are great local examples of this through the leadership of Regional Public Health and the #Tags, a group of young people in Wainuiōmata who started the movement for smokefree cars which has now been legislated.
Having the Smokefree Systems Innovator sit within the Healthy Families Hutt Valley team makes it easier to work closely with our lead provider Hutt City Council and Strategic Leadership Group member Upper Hutt City Council. This has proven effective in creating change because many of the opportunities and levers for smokefree environments sit within local government control.
Through strong partnerships, funding from Hutt Valley District Health Board and deep connections with our community we can continue our journey towards a smokefree Hutt Valley.