“Ko tēnei mātau Te Kōhanga Reo o Kia Ngawari hei tautoko te ‘Auahi kore tō waka’. He kaupapa tino whakahirahira mō tātau, kia ora ai ā tātau tamariki/mokopuna. 

Kia kaha Aotearoa!,” - Kia Ngawari Te Kōhanga Reo. 

A Southland-centric initiative supporting national efforts to change the culture of smoking in cars with children is prompting conversations among local families, with the creators thrilled with the engagement and impact. 

Active Southland’s Healthy Families Invercargill team partnered with Awarua Whanau Services and 10 early childhood centres across the region to create a local initiative to support Te Hiringa Hauora’s nationwide Drive Smokefree for Tamariki campaign. The national campaign, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, aimed to raise awareness ahead of a change in the law and was promoted locally by the Smokefree Murihiku network, which includes Healthy Families Invercargill.

The Southland initiative centres around a video featuring the ECEs, and calling for people to stop smoking and vaping in cars where children are present. 

The video has reached more than 12,700 people through Facebook and has been viewed nearly 6400 times. It has also been shared by several high-profile people, including Dr Ayesha Verrall, who recently launched Auahi Kore Aotearoa Mahere Rautaki 2025, the Smokefree 2025 Action Plan, Dr Liz Craig, and Dr Elizabeth Kerekere. The Health Promotion Agency also shared it on their page and media release, which is fantastic recognition for this local initiative supporting a national campaign.

Healthy Families Invercargill manager Jared Cappie said early childhood centres involved in the collaboration had said they were extremely pleased to be involved, and this was demonstrated with the 100 percent engagement rate. 

“Centres were quick to get involved when we put out the call for volunteers, and all said they believed the mahi to be extremely valuable. Many have since told us their families are not only discussing the issue, but some have taken their own action as a result of understanding the laws more clearly – one centre has changed its own smoking policy, while others have told us their tamariki are going home and telling mum or dad not to smoke or vape in the car. Other parents have told us they had not realised the same rules applied to vaping in cars, and that vaping in enclosed spaces, such as cars, also posed health risks.” 

“The community engagement and support for this video and initiative has been fantastic and it is great to see some really worthwhile kōrero taking place.” 

Communities around Aotearoa have advocated for this law change for a long time and Healthy Families Invercargill was pleased to be part of spreading the word in Southland, Cappie said.  

“Our kaupapa is about making it easier for the community to make healthier choices and it’s great to see the kōrero which is being created by this campaign.”  

Early childhood and kohanga educators said the campaign supported their own kaupapa around creating a great environment for tamariki.  

From 28 November 2021, under the Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Act, it is illegal to smoke or vape in a vehicle that has children under 18-years-old in it (whether the vehicle is moving or not). 

Article added: Monday 21 February 2022