Iwi Take on Tobacco

Iwi Take on Tobacco

Te Reo Marama has welcomed the adoption of the Ngati Kahungunu Tobacco Use Strategy by the third largest iwi at the recent Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporation Board meeting.

“This is the first iwi to take on tobacco use amongst its people by adopting a comprehensive strategy to rid tobacco from its peoples’ lives. The iwi should be commended for their leadership in taking on the biggest preventable killer of Kahungunu peoples and Maori. said Shane Bradbrook Director of Te Reo Marama.

The Strategy incorporates a blend of both tobacco control strategies such as using cessation services and traditional cultural lore (tikanga) that will remove not only the use of tobacco products but also the carrying of tobacco on to sites such as marae and wahi tapu (sacred sites).

“Ultimately what this Strategy will do is send a message to Maori that a product that addicts and kills over 600 Maori each year is no longer welcome. The challenge has been taken up by Kahungunu and in doing so I hope that other iwi also determine that tobacco has to be removed from their respective iwi boundaries.” said Mr Bradbrook.

Reference:

Information - Ngati Kahungunu: http://www.kahungunu.iwinz/index2.html

Ngati Kahungunu Tobacco Use Strategy

Strategic Intent – Aim
To lead the iwi in reducing smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption rates within a ten year period prior to totally eliminating tobacco use within Ngāti Kahungunu.
The Underlying Mission and Guiding Principles
The Ngāti Kahungunu Tobacco Strategy is based on the Mission and Guiding Principles reflected in the Ngāti Kahungunu 25 Year Vision:

The Mission
• To enhance the mana and well-being of Ngāti Kahungunu iwi

Guiding Principles
• Te tuhonohono o Kahungunu - how we relate to ourselves.
• Te hononga mareikura o Takitimu - how we relate to every other iwi, hapū and whānau.
• Te whakaputanga o ngā Rangatira - the declaration of independence, how we relate to every other race and country in the world.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi - how we relate to the Crown.
• Te Kotahitanga - how to achieve Māori sovereignty.
• Kanohi ki kanohi - how to do it; face to face.

Goals
To significantly reduce tobacco prevalence and consumption rates prior to elimination of tobacco from Ngāti Kahungunu as an iwi.

Cessation
• Increase quit attempts by smokers within the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi
• Advocate the use of national and regional cessation services that are culturally appropriate for Ngāti Kahungunu iwi
• To significantly reduce the prevalence rates within the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi
• To eliminating the prevalence rates within the Ngāti Kahungunu iwi

Exposure to second-hand smoke
• To advocate significant reduction then elimination of smoking in whare tupuna/wharekai/marae, kainga/homes and waka/vehicles

Eliminating smoking activity (other environments/events)
• To eliminate all tobacco from significant places: wāhi tapu, urupā, maunga and awa within the Ngāti Kahungunu rohe
• To make all Ngāti Kahungunu events initially Auahi Kore (Smokefree) then Tupeka Kore (Tobacco-free) .e.g. Annual General Meeting

Eliminating smoking initiation
• To significantly reduce then eliminate the uptake of smoking amongst rangatahi from Ngāti Kahungunu iwi

Objectives
In order to achieve the overall goals this strategy aims to:

1. Increase quit attempts amongst Ngāti Kahungunu smokers (Cessation);
2. Reduce then eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke (Environments);
3. Exposure to smoking activity
4. Reduce then eliminate smoking initiation (Rangatahi-Youth).

ENDS