Midland Smokefree Programme
Our vision is for a Smokefree, Tobacco Free Midland by 2025.
Our children and rangatahi deserve a future where smoking is history.
Introduction
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and long term conditions such as respiratory
disease, heart disease and stroke
The Midland DHB Chairs and CE’s and the Chair of the Iwi Relationship Board have made a significant
commitment to reduce the impact and harm caused by tobacco and smoking by adopting the
Midland Smokefree Tobacco Free 2025 vision. It is a strong regional leadership statement that
empowers DHB employees and staff to proactively create opportunities for smokers to successfully
quit and make smoking less attractive for young people to ever start.
Cancer is the leading cause of death in the Midland region (28%)
Lung cancer is the fourth, primary cause of cancer in the Midland region yet it is the leading cause of
cancer for Māori. The mortality rates for lung cancer in Māori are almost four times higher than nonMāori1. More over Māori have higher mortality rates than non-Māori from cardiovascular disease,
stroke, heart failure and rheumatic heart disease2.
Smoking during pregnancy causes harm for the mother and child. It often results in low birth
weights, preterm delivery, sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma for the baby. As a
result tobacco use and smoking is a significant cause and stark reminder of the unequal outcomes in
health experienced by Māori of the Midland region.
12 year successful quit rates to achieve the Midland smokefree 2025 vision
The smoking prevalence in the New Zealand adult population is 15.5%3. The Midland population is
845,700. Approximately 566,619 (67%4) is estimated to be aged between 15-64 years. Hence
approximately 84,992 Midland adults smoke. The 2025 target of <5% prevalence is 28,330. In total
56,660 Midland adult smokers must successfully quit. Or 4,722 successful quits over the next 12
years to December 2025.
Of the 845,700 Midland population 211,425 (25%) is estimated to be Māori. The Māori population
aged between 15 and 64 (60.6%) years is 128,123. The New Zealand Māori smoking prevalence is
36%5. As a result it is estimated that 46,1246 Māori in Midland smoke. This represents more than
half the regional smoking population of 84,992. The equity target of <5% to 2025 for Midland Māori
1
Midland Cancer Network 2009 An assessment of cancer health needs in the Midland Cancer Network region 2009:
Available: http://www.midlandcancernetwork.org.nz/file/fileid/18959
2
Midland Health Network, 2012. Maori Health Profile 2012. Available: https://www.midlandshn.health.nz/uploads/maorihealth-profile-2012-v3.pdf
3
Ministry of Health. 2013. New Zealand Health Survey: Annual update of key findings 2012/13. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
4
Statistics NZ: National Population estimates: Available:
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/NationalPopulationEstimates_HOTPAt
30Jun13.aspx
5
Ministry of Health. 2013. New Zealand Health Survey: Annual update of key findings 2012/13. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
6
Statistics NZ. Maori Population estimates: Available:
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/maori-population-estimates.aspx
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is 6,406. Consequently a total of 39,718 Māori smokers must successfully quit over the next 12 years
to December 2025. Or 3,309 successful Māori quits each year.
The Pacific population of the Midland region is 3% or 25,371. Using a similar age range for 15 to 64
year old (60.6%) as Māori it is estimated that the Midland Pacific adult population is 15,374. Pacific
smoking prevalence has dropped from 30.3% in 2006 to 23.2% in 2013. So the number of Pacific
adult smokers in Midland is 3566. The 2025, <5% target, is 768 and the annual successful quit rate
for the next 12 years is 233.
Midland DHB Population
Adult 15-64
Prevalence
Smokers
Annual quits <5% 2025
Midland
845,700
566,619
15%
84,992
4,722
28,330
Māori
211,425
128,123
36%
46,124
3,309
6,406
Pacific
25,371
15,374
23.2%
3,566
233
768
Minister’s interim target – 18% Māori prevalence by 2018
In May 2013 the Associate Minister of Health announced an interim target to halve the current
prevalence for Māori smokers to <18% by 2018. The information above describes the actions
required to achieve that target.
Midland smokefree priorities
The Midland Smokefree Leadership Group has extracted a set regional priority from a schedule of 22
regional smokefree actions. The priorities areas focus on strengthening smokefree action with
Māori.
1. Improve the referral process and pathway for hospitalised Māori smokers to cessation
services
2. Establish a referral pathway to ensure that Māori pregnant women who smoke are
identified early and supported to take up cessation advice and services
3. Support Kohanga Reo, early childcare centre and Kura to adopt the Tupeka Kore (tobacco
free) philosophy as tikanga (best practice).
4. Confirm a comprehensive annual calendar of rangatahi (youth) events and dedicate
smokefree / tobacco free promotions and awareness activity to support the event
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