Month: December 2025

Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board opposes moves to push vaping on Māori providers as rangatahi harm escalates

The Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board is condemning moves to pressure Māori health providers into supplying vaping products as part of quit-smoking services, warning that it puts whānau health at risk and undermines kaupapa Māori approaches to hauora.

The board stands alongside Takiri Mai te Ata Trust, following Whatu Ora’s announcement threatening to end the trust’s smokefree contract if they don’t supply vaping devices.

“We fully support the Trust’s work to help whānau quit smoking in ways that are safe, sustainable, and aligned with their oranga values and kaupapa. Encouraging young people to remain addicted to nicotine is not a kaupapa we support,” said board Manahautū, Hikitia Ropata.

The board’s recently released Whānau Voice report showed whānau across the region were deeply concerned about the impact vaping was having on young people.

Takiri Mai te Ata Trust has supported whānau across Wellington, Porirua and Te Awa Kairangi for decades through culturally grounded stop-smoking programmes. The Trust has declined to distribute vaping products, citing concerns about nicotine addiction, rangatahi harm, and the normalisation of vaping in community and marae settings.

Ms Ropata says the reality on the ground and across communities is already clear.

“Our rangatahi are not quitting smoking and switching to vaping – most are starting out as vapers and have never smoked. Vapes are cheaper than cigarettes.”

Recent data shows that the highest vaping rates in Aotearoa are now among 14-year-old Māori girls.

“This is not harm reduction. This is government support for addiction.”

Ms Ropata says the Whaitua geo-mapping tool shows us vaping products are heavily concentrated in lower-income communities, with vape shops found close to kura and schools, making nicotine addiction highly visible and accessible to young people.

“Normalising vaping in our communities means siding with tobacco companies over our most vulnerable whānau, our tamariki and rangatahi.”

The Board is calling on the Government to work in partnership with providers, not against them.

“Māori health providers must be trusted to exercise kaupapa-based judgement informed by whānau voices.”

Whaitua Geo-Mapping Tool: https://reports.hqsc.govt.nz/whaitua/

Whānau Voice Report: https://atiawatoaimpb.nz

For more information contact Christine Ammunson 0274457333 or christine.ammunson@roheora.nz

Kapa haka and the importance of connection emerged as major contributors to whānau oranga in the newly released Whānau Voice Insights Report 2025, with warnings about the impact vaping is having on rangatahi also highlighted.

“Whānau shared how kapa haka and connection uplift oranga – strengthening identity, whakapapa, te reo and a deep sense of belonging. They spoke of kapa haka as a source of pride and collective strength, and how connection to culture, whenua and trusted relationships are essential to oranga,” said Hikitia Ropata, Āti Awa Toa Hauora

Partnership Board Manahautū.

“At the same time, whānau raised concerns about vaping among rangatahi, the cost of dental care for adults, long waits and the lack of Māori-led services. Their voices should help guide decision makers: invest in what keeps whānau connected and thriving and challenge the barriers that hold whānau back.”

Whānau described kapa haka as strengthening identity, pride, te reo, whakapapa and whanaungatanga, while supporting discipline, fitness and deep mental and spiritual wellbeing (Te Ihi, Te Wehi, Te Wana).

“Across the region, whānau consistently emphasised the importance of connection – to culture, to whānau, to whenua and to trusted people within the health system.”

The report coincides with Māwharu in the Maramataka, a phase associated with Whakatau (mental wellbeing) and Whakaora (physical wellbeing).

“The themes shared by whānau align closely with the meaning of this phase: oranga is built through connection to each other, to culture, and to services that understand our realities,” said Ms Ropata.

Whānau insights were also gathered from kapa haka performers, support crews and whānau attending Te Matatini, confirming the deep cultural and social value kapa haka provides across our rohe.

Summary of Key Findings

Whānau identified several barriers that disrupt their connection to care, including high costs, long waits, transport challenges in rural areas, workforce shortages, and a lack of culturally safe, Māori-led services. Despite being enrolled with primary care, many still cannot access timely or affordable support, with access to mental health support particularly poor (60% reporting difficulties).

Whānau also raised strong concerns about rising vaping among rangatahi and the easy availability of vape products near kura. They want kaupapa Māori cessation pathways, tighter regulation, and earlier prevention efforts, delivered by trusted Māori providers.
Immunisation is generally supported, but hesitancy remains. Whānau prefer vaccinations delivered by Māori providers, in trusted places such as kura, kōhanga and marae, where connection drives engagement.

Across all findings, the message is consistent: strengthen connection to people, culture and place; invest in services by Māori, for Māori; and build a strong Māori workforce supported by prevention-focused, te ao Māori–grounded approaches. These insights provide clear direction for future commissioning and system change