High burden of smoking in Northland

Northland has a higher burden from smoking than the rest of New Zealand, however, fewer people are picking up the habit at a young age, says Northland DHB.

Figures from Northland DHB show as many as one in four deaths in Northland is related to smoking and nearly half of all Maori deaths are tobacco related. About 5000 New Zealanders die every year from smoking-related illnesses.

Just over 28 per cent of adults in Northland are smokers with 62.1 per cent of Maori smokers.

"Northland has a high Maori population and also a high low-socioeconomic population so Northland is always over-represented in smoking statistics," DHB smokefree adviser Bridget Rowse said.

Despite the rates, the Ash (Action on Smoking & Health) survey of Year 10 students had shown a decrease in the number of teenagers picking up the habit and an increase in those who had never smoked.

Most hospital staff in Northland are trained in smoking cessation programme Quit and there are several Quit services in the community, including Aukati KaiPaipa, and iwi health providers such as Te Hiku and Ngati Hine Health Trust.

Quitline received 41,738 calls to August 31 this year from Kiwi smokers keen to kick the habit - 1349 from Northland. The increased cost of cigarettes and subsidised quit services had made it more attractive for people to quit, Ms Rowse said.

About 150 people from Northland registered with Quitline in August, compared with 212 in January, although Quitline spokeswoman Jane MacPherson said January had the organisation's highest call volumes due to New Year's resolutions.

Retail displays of cigarettes were banned from July 23 this year. Under the regulations all retailers are required to ensure tobacco products are hidden from view.

A series of tax rises - with more on the way - have made New Zealand cigarettes among the most expensive in the OECD.

The Government has set a goal of making New Zealand smokefree by 2025.