Media release from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) will be at parliament today to support Smokefree Nurses Aotearoa/New Zealand (SNANZ) when they submit to the Maori Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the tobacco industry.

Member of SNANZ and NZNO kaiwhakahaere, Kerri Nuku is in complete agreement with what SNANZ have to say to the committee.

"Nurses and kaimahi hauora are credible and trusted health professionals, and have the potential to be the largest workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand providing effective smoking cessation interventions. We can all be powerful advocates for tobacco-free homes and communities," she said.

"Māori nurses can be healthy role models for our whānau, hapū and iwi, but let's not forget that health professionals who smoke need supportive programmes to help quit without being made to feel guilty for their own addiction."

"A programme that is specifically aimed at supporting Māori health professionals to quit is what we need to empower our communities, whānau ,hapū and iwi to quit."

"We have some of the worse tobacco related statistics in the world; Māori women die prematurely of smoking related illnesses at faster rates than any other adults in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is vital that we address these inequalities. We must break the cycle and create a new generation of smokefree tamariki."

NZNO urges the select committee to adequately fund the resources needed to empower our health workforce to quit so they can empower our communities quit. For further information about quitting smoking, phone Quitline on 0800 778778 or visit www.quit.org.nz .