While the system will always look at how it can be more responsive to the needs of Māori, and address how it contributes to health inequalities, what is also true is that community and whānau action and leadership can and does make a difference to reducing smoking rates amongst Māori.
Te Puna Oranga (Waikato DHB, Māori Health Unit) are leading Tupeka Kore for the Waikato region based upon the fact that tobacco use is eroding successive generations of future leaders, grandparents, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters and our children.
A variety of approaches exist that can help to reduce the impact and incidence of smoking on Māori whānau.
Tupeka Kore is a progression from Auahi Kore (Smokefree) along with an iwi Māori approach.
Tupeka Kore intends to bring the issue of tikanga to the fore in the war against tobacco use and smoking within Māori whānau.
The position is that tobacco and smoking are not part of tikanga Māori.
Tobacco is a Māori killer and as a result brings the loss of culture, language, identity, and people.
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!