World Smokefree May 2024
It’s World Smokefree May and we’re excited to share how we’ve been supporting this kaupapa. Our mahi towards a smokefree Aotearoa focuses on empowering community champions to promote smokefree and vapefree environments and working alongside key partners to create a smokefree and vapefree future.
‘We’re backing you’ is the national theme this year which encourages Aotearoa to back each other to become Smokefree and live a free from the harms of tobacco.
Find out more about World Smokefree May
By supporting local leaders and advocating for policy changes, we’ll continue to make significant strides towards a healthier, smokefree and vapefree future for all.
Introducing Takiri Mai Te Ata Stop Smoking Steering Group
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We're actively working alongside key influencers and decision makers to accelerate progress towards a smokefree and vapefree future, including the leaders and champions at Takiri Mai Te Ata (TMTA) Stop Smoking Steering Group.
We recently had the opportunity to sit down and kōrero with Catherine Manning from TMTA Stop Smoking Steering Group as she shared the whakapapa of TMTA, the group’s latest updates, insights and what's on their radar for the coming month.
A collective effort by our kaimahi, local government, system partners and our communities are integral to the success of achieving a Smokefree and Vapefree Aotearoa.
Through the eyes of our tamariki
As part of World Smokefree May, Hapai Te Hauora - Māori Public Health hosted an art exhibition in Wellington, Auahitūroa – A Eulogy to Tobacco.
We submitted an entry for this exhibition called 'Through the Eyes of our Tamariki', aiming to amplify the voices of tamariki living in Te Awa Kairangi in the fight against smoking, by showcasing their creative expressions and compelling narratives. Through their personal stories and artwork, we wanted to inspire action, raise awareness and promote smokefree environments.
Our Systems Innovators Charlie and Mele shared their experiences with the tamariki and what it means to be a part of the exhibition.
Tamariki are vulnerable to the harms of smoking, but also play powerful agents of change in their communities. By empowering them to share their experiences and perspectives, we can drive meaningful progress towards smokefree environments.
Aligned messaging across the Wellington Region
Systems Innovator Charlie collaborating with Policy Advisors from neighbouring Councils.
We identified that in the Wellington Region, it’s possible for an average person to travel across 3-4 cities in a day and receive different messaging around smokefree/vapefree environments.
To strengthen the movement in creating a smokefree and vapefree Aotearoa, we host and participate in regular hui with Policy Advisors from all councils in the Wellington Region to look over each council’s smokefree policies and identify similarities and/or differences and look at ways we can collectively strengthen and align our smokefree and vapefree messaging across the region.
Smokefree public places
We’ve continued to uphold Hutt City Council’s Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy and Upper Hutt City Council’s Smokefree Upper Hutt Policy, which we were instrumental in pushing forward by working closely with system partners, councils and community champions.
Check out our case study Creating a Smokefree Hutt Valley which shares our journey to creating a smokefree and vapefree Hutt Valley and insights and lessons learned on how collective effort supports systems change.
As we celebrate our progress in advocating for smokefree and vapefree environments, we acknowledge that there’s still a lot to be done. We know the importance of having spaces and places that support and enable better health and wellbeing and that smokefree and vapefree environments enable our communities to be healthy, liveable and family-friendly places.