Bid launched to help mums to quit smoking

Toia Lucas-Walden is encouraging groups and individuals, especially expecting mothers, to take part in the WERO Challenge. Photo / File

The latest WERO Challenge is under way and this time hapu mothers are being urged to take part.

WERO is a stop smoking competition for teams of 10 run over three months.

Toia Lucas-Walden of Korowai Aroha is the regional co-ordinator for WERO for Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa and Kawerau region and hapu women, is encouraging work places, marae, kohanga reo groups, sport clubs and individuals to join.

Korowai Aroha and Tipu Ora work can help provide nicotine gum with advice from the Aukati Kaipaipa (Quit Smoking) team.

"I want hapu mothers to take part because of the high percentage of them who are smoking here," Mrs Lucas-Walden said.

"WERO has a holistic, whanau approach to it and if one person in their whanau gives up, the whole whanau succeeds."

Mrs Lucas-Walden said there was a basket of goodies for the babies of expectant mothers taking part and teams could win up to $6000 for a non-profit organisation or charity of their choice.

"It has been an absolute transformation for those who have previously taken part in WERO, they've felt great and are looking great, they feel powerful and are more confident. The former smokers are no longer segregated," she said.

"We want to get our hapu mothers feeling powerful and make sure when they have a pepi they are in good condition."

For more information contact Mrs Lucas-Walden on 021 552 959 or toia@korowai.org.nz.