Iwi Calls On Reti, Peters, Costello To Halt Smokefree Repeal

Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) fully backs Ngātiwai
Trust Board’s public appeal to Minister of Health Dr Shane
Reti and the Honourable Winston Peters – members of the iwi
– to halt the repeal of New Zealand’s life-saving
Smokefree law.

The iwi’s public letter appealed to
Dr Reti as Minister of Health and a “senior member of the
National Party”.

“… we know that you have influence,
and we also know that you see the proposed repeal of the
Smokefree Act as morally wrong, both as a doctor and as an
uri of Ngātiwai.”

HCA commends the iwi for holding Dr
Reti and Mr Peters to account as the Smokefree law will
dramatically reduce smoking rates in Aotearoa and its repeal
will cost thousands of lives.

HCA board member Grant
Berghan, a Ngātiwai member and experienced public health
advocate, said Reti, Peters – and associate Health Minister
(tobacco regulation) Casey Costello who is also a Ngātiwai
member – had brought shame and embarrassment to the
iwi.

“The repeal is damaging to our whakapapa and, in
accordance with te ao Māori, they will be held accountable
for their actions by our people.”

Berghan said
whakapapa is at the heart of the Māori world and to
threaten it by putting Māori whānau at risk, was
considered an extremely serious breach of iwi
values.

Modelling showed the combined measures would
prevent the early deaths of 8150 people (2811 for Maori)
over 20 years.

Repealing the Smokefree Environments
and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act
(SERPA), which will reduce the prevalence and addictiveness
of cigarettes, and create a smokefree generation, went
beyond politics, Berghan said.

“Governments come and
go but your whakapapa is forever.”

Berghan called on
Reti, Peters and Costello to halt the repeal or “cross the
floor” and vote according to what was in line with the
values of Ngātiwai and te ao
Māori.

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