Māori SIDS confronts tobacco giant

Māori SIDS confronts tobacco giant

Māori SIDS presented 60 pairs of babies booties to the parliamentary tobacco inquiry, a challenging and stark representation of innocent babies who die of SIDS per year, with two thirds being Māori. “Maori babies are dying at a rate that cannot be ignored,” said Nicola MacDonald, Maori SIDS Education Manager, “even more tragic is that these deaths are preventable, 46% of Maori Sudden Unexplained Deaths in Infancy is attributed to smoking, the number one risk factor.”

The last submission to be heard, the Māori SIDS team spoke as mothers, grandmothers, aunties and sisters on behalf of the “unheard voices” of babies, tamariki and mokopuna. The presentation highlighted the devastating impact the Tobacco Industry in Aotearoa has had upon Māori whānau, hapu and iwi with heartbreaking consequence.

“Ban it now!” demanded Macdonald. She also emphasised that the ministers need to be resolute and steadfast, not to be dissuaded by arguments of personal choice. The Maori SIDS submission highlights that babies who die of SUDI have no choice, but pay the ultimate price for society’s decision to allow the lawful distribution of a killer substance.

Māori SIDS strongly urges the Government that there is no discernible public benefit in supporting sales of tobacco, therefore should take strong leadership and action to enforce an immediate ban of the sale of tobacco in Aotearoa.

ENDS