Hāpai Te Hauora is today calling on the Government to strengthen smokefree policies and address systemic gaps in enforcement that continue to place Māori and Pacific communities at disproportionate risk of tobacco-related harm.
The call comes in response to recent evidence showing tobacco retail density remains significantly higher in low-income and Māori communities, despite previous commitments to a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 strategy.
Our Position
Hāpai Te Hauora supports a public health approach to tobacco control grounded in equity. That means addressing both the commercial drivers of tobacco use and the social and economic conditions that make quitting harder for some communities than others.
We are calling for:
- Strict limits on tobacco retail density in areas of high deprivation
- Full funding for cessation support services to meet demand in Māori and Pacific communities
- Clear legislative timelines that cannot be weakened through political negotiation
- Transparent monitoring and public reporting of smokefree progress indicators
Background
Aotearoa New Zealand has made significant progress in reducing smoking rates over two decades. However, Māori adults continue to smoke at rates more than twice those of non-Māori, a disparity that reflects deeper inequities in the social determinants of health rather than individual behaviour or preference.
Hāpai Te Hauora has long advocated for a te Tiriti o Waitangi-based approach to health policy — one that recognises the Crown’s obligation to actively protect Māori health and wellbeing.
For media enquiries, contact Hāpai Te Hauora communications at the details on our contact page.