Ati Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board Opposes Push for Vaping in Māori Health Services
The Ati Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board opposes requiring Māori health providers to promote vaping, citing concerns about youth nicotine addiction.Summary
The Ati Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board has strongly opposed recent moves by health authorities to mandate the promotion of vaping products within Māori health services as part of smoking cessation programs. The board, representing iwi and Māori health interests, argues that this approach risks exposing young people (rangatahi) and families (whānau) to nicotine dependency, thereby undermining long-term Māori health outcomes. They highlight that vaping, initially intended as a smoking cessation tool, has become increasingly popular among youth, mirroring past patterns of cigarette uptake. The board emphasizes the importance of culturally appropriate, Māori-led cessation approaches grounded in tikanga and kaupapa Māori frameworks, criticizing a “one-size-fits-all” approach. They assert that shifting nicotine dependency is not a viable path to achieving Aotearoa’s Smokefree goals and advocate for strategies that strengthen whānau resilience and reduce harm without normalizing vaping among rangatahi. This position aligns with concerns from other public health groups and Māori providers, who emphasize the unintended consequences of vaping for young people and call for stricter regulation and education.
(Source：Waatea News)
