World Smokefree Day – 31 May – was first held by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988, and first observed nationally in New Zealand in 1998. Prior to this, New Zealand organisations with an interest in tobacco control had marked the day in various ways, but 1998 was the first year that the day was nationally co-ordinated.

World Smokefree Day is an opportunity for smokefree/auahi kore promoters and advocates to work collaboratively to progress tobacco control in their region. The World Smokefree Day Group aims to make this collaboration a little easier by providing communication channels and resources for World Smokefree Day initiatives that enhance and highlight the tobacco control priorities and activities relevant to each region. The group is facilitated by the Health Sponsorship Council.

If your organisation is planning an event to promote World Smokefree Day, click here for more information about World Smokefree Day 2008.