Marae under attack from smoking, inquiry told

File photo / Brett Phibbs

Maori told the parliamentary tobacco inquiry today that their marae were being undermined by tobacco smoking and the associated early death of their elders.

"Our marae are under attack," said Kiri Potaka-Dewes, the chairwoman of Te Roopu Hauora o Te Arawa - the Te Arawa health board.

"Many marae are bereft of kaumatua that should be there leading by good role models for our young. But they die prematurely from heart problems, diabetes, all sorts. It can all be related back to the impact of tobacco.

"Tobacco smoking has invaded the life of the marae."

Mrs Potaka-Dewes was addressing the Maori affairs select committee, which is investigating the historical actions of the tobacco industry to promote tobacco use among Maori, the effects of smoking on Maori individuals and society, and what new tobacco control measures could be considered.

Nearly 50 per cent of Maori adults are smokers, compared to around 20 per cent of the total adult population. Maori women have the highest smoking rate of any ethnic/gender grouping.

"Young Maori women are being targeted by tobacco companies and they [the companies] are enjoying considerable success," said Mrs Potaka-Dewes. "They are the mothers of our future generations."

"Tobacco companies are an evil presence. They ought to be banned. I don't think anything good comes from smoking."

Katerina Pihera, another member of the health board, said she had been a smoker and all her friends had taken up smoking by the time they had turned 13.

"For young Maori women there's a concept that smoking is cool, will help you lose weight and makes you more attractive - and many people buy into it. I did too."

Mrs Potaka-Dewes said that when she grew up in the 1940s, in a rural area south of Rotorua, hui and marae in the area were free of tobacco smoking, but by the end of last century, smoking had pervaded all aspects of society.

Many submissions to the committee call for the introduction of measures including a ban on retail displays of tobacco, an eventual ban on the sale of tobacco, increases in tobacco tax, and the devotion of more state funding to helping smokers to quit.