Despite smoking seeming almost normal in some Māori communities, the traditional world of the Māori was totally Auahi Kore. There wasn't even an original Māori word to describe the act of smoking. James Cook brought the first tobacco and over the last two hundred years, it steadily became a part of Māori society. Now almost one in every two adult Maori are smokers. Smoking kills our people and our culture.

The National Auahi Kore Service Area has been operating under Te Hotu Manawa Māori since 1994.

Te Hotu Manawa Māori operates under the philosophy 'by Māori for Māori.' Our role is to improve and protect the health of all Māori by contributing to efforts in reducing tobacco use, exposure to environment tobacco smoke and their adverse health consequences.

Services provided by the National Auahi Kore Service include the following:

• Supporting and strengthening the Auahi Kore knowledge and promotion skills of the Māori workforce.

• Facilitation of networking opprotunities and dissemination of key information regarding Auahi Kore to support Māori community workers and others who are in a position to have a positive impact on Māori health.

• Promotion, especially at a national level, of public health policies and practices which support and encourage Māori to be Auahi Kore.

• Provide leadership and promotion of Auahi Kore lifestyles with Māori well-being , culture and tradition.

For more information, please contact Irene Walker on 09 638 5804 or email irene@thmm.co.nz