The following is an overview of the World Smokefree Day activities around the region, submitted by team coordinators.
Wairarapa | Taranaki | Wellington | Western Bay of Plenty | Northland | Dargaville | Far North | Mid North | Otago | Southland|
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SOUTHLAND |
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| School poster competition in Southland |
WAIRARAPA
Event
The Wairarapa Smokefree Network hosted a Wairarapa Smokefree Lunchtime Awards on 31 May at the Frank Cody Lounge, with Shane Kawenata Bradbrook (Te Reo Marama) as the guest speaker. Approximately 100 people attended the awards, with thirty-five people nominated to receive awards for quitting smoking.
‘Guess how many butts in a jar’
Two jars travelled around the Wairarapa. The local paper followed the jars movement highlighting how much money you could save if you went Smokefree.
Hundreds entered the competition and a 12 year-old girl won $443.
TARANAKI
Photo exhibition
The Taranaki Smokefree Coalition developed a ‘photo voice’, which featured 15 people's quit attempt story. Participants were from throughout Taranaki and represented a variety of ages, about half Māori and had a variety of reasons for wanting to give up smoking.
Two displays were made: one for North Taranaki and one for South and will remain in these areas.
A launch occurred in Hawera on 31 May (World Smokefree Day) and MP, Tariana Turia attended. The launch also included a celebration of a 40-day Smokefree challenge that Ruanui Health in Hawera had done. Eleven people had taken up the challenge and had given up smoking 40 days before and had remained Smokefree for 40 days.
There was media coverage around this in the papers in Taranaki. The photo voice is now available to borrow free of charge throughout Taranaki. It will be marketed to large workplaces, health centres, libraries etc
WELLINGTON
Displays
A table was set up in the Atrium in Wellington Hospital on 31 May (World Smokefree Day) and Kenepuru Hospital on 28 May as a lead-up to World Smokefree Day. The team at the hospitals engaged with both visitors and staff interested in quitting smoking, connecting them with the community cessation support programmes, as well as providing several Quit cards for NRT. A display was also set up at Whitireia Polytechnic.
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY
Displays
The table set-up at Tauranga hospital had almost 300 members of the public engage with the Quit coaches on site. Quit cards and lozenge samples were given out, and hospital staff and members of the public have been referred and signed up to NRT, giving quitting a go.
NORTHLAND
Media
Northland DHB focused on raising the awareness of World Smokefree Day and the quit services available in Northland through a Northland-wide media campaign. The mediums used included the local newspaper, local radio station, staff magazine and pasting World Smokefree Day and Face the Facts posters on the streets of Whangarei.
Youth
With Youth week the week prior to World Smokefree Day, a range of activities took place such as the One Tree Point youth camp.
A miri-miri based intervention was delivered; two message tables were set up and taught the miri-miri message, and the tikanga centered on the health and wellbeing of whānau, through the use and engagement of this particular form of mahi. Time was spent with mostly “at risk or high risk” youth that were on drug or rehab programs; but suffered from the vice of addiction, and gateway drugs (Tobacco / alcohol), that lead in to other addiction/s. Smokers were prompted to ‘Give Quitting a Go’ and given advice on the type of service/s offered, briefed on the potential harm and risks to health plus offered cessation support and a guide to accessing services on the spot ABC’s. A smokerlyzer was there to take carbon readings, which acted as a motivator for youth to quitting. There was also a display of nicotine replacement therapy with information on how to use them.
A BBQ ran at the Pulse – the “youth one stop shop” from 10am – 2:30pm. The community had to play a game and answer questions based on smoking, smoking services or facts about smoking to get a free meal from the BBQ. The aim of the game was to educate the community about smoking and how to quit or access services to quit. The event finished with a mini concert highlighting the local talented youth.
DARGAVILLE
Display
A display was set up in the foyer of The Warehouse, with the aim to offer quit support to those smokers feeling the pinch from the recent tobacco tax increases. The display was staffed from 10am – 2pm and people who were thinking of quitting or had family members of smokers were spoken to.
Quit packs were given out – inside they contained quit smoking and nicotine replacement therapy information and World Smokefree Day resources.
World Smokefree Day was also promoted as part of the Youth Week celebrations, at a lunchtime event at Dargaville High School and at a under-age “Bright and Bold” smokefree, alcohol and drug free rage, with over 150 teenagers over the age of 13 years old attending.
Youth
World Smokefree Day was promoted as part of the Youth Week celebrations. These included a lunchtime event at the high school and at an under-age “Bright and Bold” smokefree, alcohol and drug free rage, with over a hundred teenagers attending.
FAR NORTH
Schools
Tamariki were asked to draw what they see when they walk into a dairy; nearly all of them drew cigarettes, even R18 tobacco signs. World Smokefree Day resources were used as prizes.
Surveying
World Smokefree Day surveys were developed with questions around World Smokefree Day awareness, quitting services, what people thought works and Smokefree attitudes. Both adults and youth completed the surveys.
MID NORTH
Photo Exhibition
Ngati Hine Health Trust hosted a Photo Voice Exhibition on World Smokefree Day Monday 31 May at the Old Library on Rust Avenue, Whangarei.
The exhibition allowed certain whānau from across Te Tai Tokerau who had given quitting a go and succeeded to talk about their journey – the struggle, empowerment, inspiration and passion to quit smoking. The exhibition was opened to the public with a powhiri, a karanga, karakia and mihi. Many providers around the region supported the event.
OTAGO
Display
Pharmacies, GP practices and the Plunket Car Seat Rental outlet in South Dunedin were supported with quit information and World Smokefree Day resources.
Primary care
The Dunedin hospital ran a World Smokefree Day promotion and local cessation providers were supported with World Smokefree Day resources.
Workplace
Public Health South supported United Taxis to become a smokefree fleet at all times from World Smokefree Day this year.
Tertiary
Public Health South supported Otago Polytechnic to become a smokefree campus both indoors and outdoors on World Smokefree Day this year.
Media
A full page spread was placed in local community newspaper promoting quit options and tips.
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