Te Tiratū is extremely concerned about the widespread uptake of vaping products and the use of predatory marketing strategies used to lure our whānau and to push harmful and addictive products.
To uphold our vision Kia tupu, kia hua, kia puaawai (To grow, prosper and sustain) we must protect our people, in particular rangatahi, from exploitation by highly addictive vaping products.
References:
[1] Baldassarri SR. Electronic Cigarettes: Past, Present, and Future: What Clinicians Need to Know. Clin Chest Med. 2020;41(4):797–807.
[2] Edwards R, Hoek J, Waa A, Ball J. What is happening with vaping among adolescents and young adults in Aotearoa? Public Health Expert Briefing [Internet]. 2023 12 May 2026. Available from: https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/what-happening-vaping-among-adolescents-and-young-adults-aotearoa.
[3] Hammond D, Reid JL, Burkhalter R, Rynard V, D’Mello K. Trends in smoking and vaping among young people: Findings from the ITC Youth & Young Adult Tobacco and Vaping Survey, 2017-2024. Waterloo: University of Waterloo; 2026.
[3] American Lung Association. What’s in an E-Cigarette? Chicago: American Lung Association; 2026 [Available from: https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping/whats-in-an-e-cigarette.
[4] Eng A. Vaping Regulatory Authority response to the reclassification of nicotine in liquid preparations – 67th meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee. In: Authority VR, editor. Wellington: Ministry of Health; 2022.
[5] Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board. Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board opposes moves to push vaping on Māori providers as rangatahi harm escalates Te Whanganui a Tara: Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board; 2026 [Available from: https://atiawatoaimpb.nz/2025/12/12/ati-awa-toa-hauora-partnership-board-opposes-moves-to-push-vaping-on-Māori-providers-as-rangatahi-harm-escalates/.
[6] Ball J, Christie G, Hoek J, Waa A, Edwards R. Youth vaping addiction: How it happens and why it matters. Public Health Expert Briefing [Internet]. 2024 13 May 2026. Available from: . https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/youth-vaping-addiction-how-it-happens-and-why-it-matters.
[7] Beaglehole R, Bonita R, Pang T. Smoke-free nicotine products can accelerate the end of the smoking epidemic. Nature Health. 2026.
[8] New Zealand Drug Foundation. What is Harm Reduction? Wellington: Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri: The New Zealand Drug Foundation 2026 [Available from: https://drugfoundation.org.nz/topics/policy-and-practice/harm-reduction/what-is-harm-reduction.
[9] Waa A, Maddox R, Nez Henderson P. Big tobacco using Trojan horse tactics to exploit Indigenous peoples. Tobacco Control. 2020;29(e1):e132–e3.
[10] Cohen J. Big tobacco is trying to hide its greed behind ‘harm reduction’. The Hill [Internet]. 2024 13 May 2026. Available from: https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/4524685-big-tobacco-is-trying-to-hide-its-greed-behind-harm-reduction/.
[11] Te Tiratū IMPB Monitoring Report to March 2025, p. 22-23 – Respiratory disease section. Contains Waikato Māori asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis and premature respiratory death data.
[12] Cure Kids, State of Child Health in Aotearoa New Zealand 2026, respiratory conditions section, p. 5-13 – national child respiratory burden, asthma/wheeze, bronchiolitis, risk factors including tobacco smoke and vape exposure.
[13] Te Tiratū IMPB Health Profile Vol. 1, public summary – Waikato Māori housing and primary care risk context: damp housing, mould, overcrowding, no heating, primary care enrolment gap.
[14] Ministry of Health, Tatau Kahukura: Māori Health Chart Book 2024 – national Māori respiratory inequity context: Māori aged 5-34 were more than twice as likely as non-Māori to be hospitalised for asthma, and Māori aged 45+ had around four times the COPD hospitalisation rate of non-Māori.
We need to curb the rising uptake of vaping products across the Waikato rohe.