New Zealand's Pacific population have
increased health risks from tobacco, yet
there is no government plan to reduce this.
Image: iStockphoto

Little government attention has been given to smoking by Pacific peoples in New Zealand, and there is no specific government plan to deal with this smoking.

Pacific people in New Zealand face increased health risks from tobacco, compared to the overall New Zealand population, because of higher smoking levels (30 per cent Pacific compared to 21 per cent of the whole adult population). Using the most reliable data (from the census) smoking by Pacific women increased from 23 per cent in 1996 to 27 per cent in 2006.

However, research from the University of Otago, Wellington has found some improvements; smoking by Pacific year 10 students, and smoking inside the homes of Pacific students, has declined sharply since 2000.

These are some of the findings from the first review of smoking by Pacific peoples, which has just been published online in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

“We found continued disparities in smoking prevalence between Pacific and other peoples in New Zealand. This disparity has continued despite being well known by government for over 15 years.” says lead investigator Tolotea Lanumata, from the Department of Public Health at UOW.

“The situation is made more urgent by the rapid growth of the Pacific population in New Zealand. That population has a young median age, of only 21, and is projected to reach at least 480,000 by 2026.”

The research concludes that a central government plan for Pacific tobacco control is required. The researchers found little focus by government on smoking by Pacific peoples, although some DHBs have separately developed specific plans aimed at these groups.

The study, based on an analysis of databases and websites, found that the picture appears more positive for smokefree homes and for Pacific youth. The prevalence of smoking by Pacific year 10 students reduced from 29 per cent to 16 per cent during 1999-2007. However, this decline was much less than for European youth (which in 2007 was at only 9 per cent). Smoking inside Pacific students’ homes also declined from 35 per cent to 26 per cent during 2001-2007.

The health consequences of higher smoking levels in Pacific peoples are seen in lung cancer mortality rates which are twice as high for males and 1.4 times higher for females, compared to non/Maori/non Pacific.

Ms Lanumata said that “Because of the continued disparities, there is a need for much better funding of Pacific smokefree services. We also found strong calls for more specific interventions for Pacific Peoples.”