2024 New Year’s resolution for Aotearoa: Smokefree 2025 goal to be back on track

As we enter 2024, many will take the opportunity to
reflect on the achievements, the challenges & life
lessons of 2023. It’s at this time we make New Year’s
resolutions and goals like committing to reconnect with your
culture, family or language, exercising more, eating better
and perhaps giving up smoking tobacco.

National Māori
Public Health organisation Hāpai Te Hauora welcomes a New
Year’s solution from the government who have stated their
commitment to improving Māori health outcomes – to get our
Smokefree 2025 goal back on track.

In reflection of
the recent repeal of the SERPA, a pressing question arises:
what measures will the government introduce as a
replacement? Interim CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora Jason Alexander
says, ‘It is crucial for the government to consider the
long-term implications of removing such policies without
adequate alternatives. The absence of a robust replacement
plan not only undermines efforts to combat public health
issues, like smoking, but also signals a lapse in
governmental responsibility towards its
citizens.’

The public, especially those directly
affected by these changes, deserve a clear and strategy that
prioritises health and welfare over financial gains. Put
our people over profit – stop the repeal of the Smokefree
legislation petition is an example of over 51,000
whānau adding weight to this response. Alexander states
‘Therefore, we urge the government to disclose their plans
for addressing this gap and to ensure that these plans are
focused on genuinely supporting and protecting the community
and their commitment to improving Māori health
outcomes.”

We await the Government’s New Year’s
resolutions in response to the repeal. There are many
possibilities, could we see an increase in the purchase age
to twenty-five? Could we see a sinking lid policy be
introduced to reduce retail supply? Would they delay
denicotisation until 2026?

Hāpai Te Hauora National
Tobacco Control Advocacy Service Lead Leitu Tufuga says,
‘The countdown to a Smokefree to 2025 now starts. For our
whānau who choosing to quit smoking, we encourage you
connect with your local
stop smoking service provider. A winning New Year’s
resolution for 2024 is to see world leading legislation
SEPRA be reinstated as evidence points to saving 1.3 billion
to the health system but more importantly improving health
of all New Zealanders and saving lives like we
promised’.

© Scoop Media