Oceania Smokefree: big and the small unite against tobacco

Media Release
Friday 11 October, 2013

The big and the small unite against tobacco
Delegates from the largest and smallest Pacific countries, and those in between, will be flying into New Zealand later this month for a gathering of the most knowledgeable proponents of how to achieve a smoke-free society as the future norm.

The Cancer Society of New Zealand is hosting the biennial Oceania Smokefree Conference (23 – 25 October) in Auckland. Delegates from more than 16 nations in the Pacific rim and further afield will be attending the conference.

Over 400 delegates comprising leaders, researchers and field workers in tobacco control, will combine their expertise to address the long term goal of a smoke-free Oceania and how to achieve it.

The focus will be on four areas:

• more people quitting smoking at a faster rate
• effective regulation and legislation
• encouraging young people not to start
• awareness of the tactics used by tobacco companies to subvert new tobacco control initiatives

“This is an important forum in tobacco control where we can reflect on what has been achieved since the last conference, learn from each other about what works, and set goals for 2015,” said Dr Jan Pearson, Conference Convenor and Health Promotion Manager for the Cancer Society.

The Hon Tariana Turia will open the conference and key note and other speakers will address topics such as indigenous tobacco control, changing adolescent smoking behaviour and supporting smoke-free environments and constitutions. Members of Parliament will have the opportunity to assert their party’s commitment to a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025, in a politicians panel.

ENDS

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