Smokefree 1, 2, 3
Tamariki are highly influenced by the behaviour they see. Whether through second-hand smoke, third-hand residue, or visible role modelling - exposure to smoking or vaping can harm their health and wellbeing.
Te Whāriki
Holistic development – Kotahitanga: Holistic learning can be encouraged through kaiako and whānau recognising how their behaviours influence tamariki both positively and negatively.
Relationships – Ngā hononga: Learning about smoking prevention through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places, and things in the early learning service through routines, activities and discussions.
Handy Actions are ideas, activities and initiatives that your Early Learning Service could implement relating to the topic of Smokefree 1, 2, 3. You could use the list as inspiration or as a checklist to assess what your ELS is currently doing towards 'Smokefree 1, 2, 3' and decide what other ideas could be implemented. Choose actions that suit your service, your community, and where you are at. You don’t need to do everything; these are ideas.
He Pou Oranga Tangata Whenua
Here are some examples of how the pathways of wellbeing can be interwoven into this Block:
Encouraging kaiako and whānau to take ownership of their wellbeing enhances the mana and self-determination (rangatiratanga) of tamariki and whānau as well as developing and growing their skills, knowledge and attitudes (pūkengatanga).
Recognising Māori ways of knowing and being around being smokefree is a way of preserving tangata whenua knowledge (kaitiakitanga).
Providing an environment that supports whānau to quit smoking while acknowledging it can be hard is a way to show respect, kindness and support (manaakitanga) and demonstrate a unity and solidarity (kotahitanga) to creating a smokefree environment for your tamariki. Tamariki are at the heart of their whānau, and supporting smokefree homes and whānau is about a collective journey to wellness (whānaungatanga).
Supporting information and evidence
Second-hand smoke increases the risk of serious infections, asthma symptoms, slower lung growth, SUDI, meningitis, and ear infections. Third-hand smoke leaves toxic chemicals on surfaces, fabrics, dust, and skin that children can easily absorb or ingest. Although vaping may support some adults to quit smoking, it is not harmless. It is also influences the likelihood of smoking uptake as tamariki often cannot distinguish vaping from smoking, making vapefree environments essential.
Whānau and early learning staff play a powerful role in shaping smokefree futures by modelling smokefree and vape free behaviour and talking openly with children. Under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990, all early learning buildings and grounds must be smokefree and vapefree, with clear signage, and smoking or vaping is prohibited in vehicles carrying anyone under 18. These measures aim to protect tamariki from harm, reduce the influence of seeing others smoke or vape, and promote smokefree, vapefree living as the norm.
Key Messages
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Protect children and young people from second-hand and third-hand smoke and vapour
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Reduce the influence of seeing others smoke or vape
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Promote Auahi Kore/Smokefree and Vapefree living as the norm
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Encourage people to access free Stop Smoking support
Facts
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Children with parents or caregivers who smoke are seven times more likely to become smokers.
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Daily smoking among Year 10 students dropped to 1.1% in 2022 (down from 15.2% in 2000).
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Daily vaping among 14–15‑year‑olds is 10.1% (21.7% for Māori rangatahi).
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Daily vaping among students who have never smoked has risen to 4.3% (from under 1% in 2019).
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Over one‑third of Year 10 students have tried an e‑cigarette at least once, and students who smoke are almost four times more likely to have tried vaping.
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Maternal smoking rates declined between 2009 and 2018 (overall from 13.7% to 9.4%; Māori mothers from 32.4% to 25%).
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Tobacco use and second‑hand smoke are the leading causes of preventable death in Aotearoa, causing around 5,000 deaths each year.
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Daily smoking among adults continues to fall: 8% in 2022 (down from 12.5% in 2019).
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In 2021/22, 20% of Māori adults smoked daily compared with 8% of all adults.
