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In this issue
Towards a tobacco-free Aotearoa
Tēnā koutou
I have just returned from the Tobacco-free Aotearoa conference in Auckland where the theme was "Achieving the vision of a tobacco-free Aotearoa together". The release of the Māori Affairs Select Committee report and the announcement during the conference that Cabinet has given the green light to tobacco reforms was applauded and celebrated by the delegates. The Cabinet reforms include removing tobacco displays in shops and providing for instant fines for those caught selling to minors. The recommendations and announcements will have a direct and positive impact on the young people in our schools and will help us empower our students, enabling them to remain smokefree for life.
At the conference, it was also my pleasure to share the story of Manaia View School's smokefree journey. See www.smokefreeschools.org.nz/school-stories/manaia-view-school
Please remember I am always keen to hear your stories and suggestions and I welcome any general comments you may have. Send me an email kath@hsc.org.nz
Nga mihi
Kath Blair - Schools Project Manager
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Smokefree tool kit ... now that's handy
A new tool kit (smokefreetoolkit.org.nz) is now available for health promoters to use to support their tobacco control activities. The web-based tool kit includes evidence-based approaches, a project planning tool and case studies. It also gives practical suggestions for putting tobacco control into action and can be used as a road map to support people in the tobacco control sector. The tool kit has been user-tested with a range of workers in the sector.
HSC would like to thank everyone who assisted in the development of the tool kit. For more information, or if you have any suggestions on how the tool kit could be improved, please contact Dave Gibbs at HSC dave@hsc.org.nz.
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Life Education Trust – update
HSC has been in discussion with the national office of Life Education Trust ever since the Smokefree Schools Project commenced at the beginning of 2008. Life Education Trust see their role as being an ongoing resource for schools across a range of health and social areas (not just a one off event for schools).
These discussions recently resulted in Kath Blair and Kate Matthews attending three regional training seminars for Life Education Trust. They presented a workshop giving an overview of tobacco control in New Zealand and the Smokefree Schools project. This was a great opportunity to engage with every Life Education Trust educator and to inform them about the Smokefree Schools website and the Guide to a Smokefree School, both of which outline best practice. Educators were positive about the resources and their national office agrees that the Guide is appropriate and fits with their philosophy.
Some Life Education Trust educators have already been in touch with smokefree networks at a local level, and this is welcomed as an opportunity to further develop links and learning.
Any queries, please contact Kath Blair, Schools Project Manger: kath@hsc.org.nz
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Maori smoking numbers spark coalition of youth ambassadors
A Temuka group wanting to stamp out smoking has formed a coalition to help address high numbers of Māori smokers, reports The Timaru Herald (October 6, 2010).
Nga Rangatahi Auahi Kore Ki Aoraki is a group of high-school pupils who formed the group in partnership with Opihi College teacher Kim Clarkson under the umbrella of Auahi Kore health promotion. Their main objective is to promote a smoke-free Aotearoa by 2020, so will be working on ways to get the message through to tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.
Ms Clarkson said students met recently about a ban on tobacco displays. "In most of our local shops and dairies which sell tobacco, the tobacco displays are placed right behind the counter for everyone to see. In some cases, the tobacco displays are right beside the lolly counters and every time children go in they are exposed to cigarettes. We fully support the idea of tobacco displays being `out of sight, out of mind'. These tobacco displays are encouraging young people to start smoking and not helping those who are trying to quit. We want whānau and youth to have less opportunity to take up this habit that kills so many of our people."
Read the full Timaru Herald story.
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New look for Guide and Poster
The 'Guide to a Smokefree School' and the 'Protective Factors' poster (in both Te Reo Māori and English) have been given a fresh new look. These will be available for downloading from our website or can be ordered in hard copy by sending an email to kath@hsc.org.nz.
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