Turia's technique for beating asthma: Leave Labour

Tariana Turia

Tariana Turia credits leaving Labour with ridding her of asthma.

In a speech to the National Maori Asthma Conference in Whangarei yesterday the Maori Party co-leader said she was suddenly diagnosed as an asthmatic while working in a stressful job in Maori Affairs.

"Within the space of a weekend my life and my future changed dramatically." For the following 12 years "I never went anywhere without my blue, orange, brown inhalers in my bag ... " Mrs Turia said she was "pathologically focused on removing the triggers and would always blame the cat hair on the couch, heavily perfumed guests, the air-conditioning in the office, for aggravating my asthma".

It all changed one day when she saw an advertisement for the Buteyko method. It taught her how to breathe slowly but shallowly and to adopt routines and exercises to manage asthma without drugs and "completely changed my attitude".

"Then 18 months later I left Labour. I tell you - I can thoroughly recommend it! The rest is history. Indeed as we all know we have made history in the arrival of a strong and independent Maori voice in Parliament."

"That voice - in my case anyway - has been asthma free and proud. One day I woke up and realised that without even knowing I hadn't had asthma for three months. In fact since I left Labour, I have only ever had to take medication when I have had a cold - but in the main I am asthma free, and it feels great."

Mrs Turia said the story was not sponsored by Buteyko or designed to influence voters, but to remind people they could have "rangatiratanga" over their health.