By Helen Peterson

Tobacco is a killer claiming the lives of many Tairawhiti Maori and prohibition is now seen as a way of preventing the unnecessary deaths, says Turanganui PHO’s Albie Stewart.

Something has to be done to protect New Zealand’s indigenous people from “contemporary genocide”, he says. 

Turanganui PHO has presented a submission to the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into the Tobacco Industry calling for a prohibition of tobacco in Tairawhiti.

It wants the prohibition of tobacco in Tairawhiti by using legislative measures or any such law-making tool to eliminate supply by 2020. In the lead-up it wants a Ministerial approved Special Tairawhiti Tobacco Taskforce to be established to coordinate, change, moblisie action, implement and fund all approved recommendations from the inquiry.

“Our intentions are clear. Stop the supply of tobacco while organisations address and reduce the impact on users,” says Albie.

“We ask that the Committee assist to eliminate the use of tobacco and help resolve the genocidal impact the industry is having on Tairawhiti Maori.”

Turanganui PHO Chief Executive Keriana Brooking supports the submission’s recommendations and says while prohibition may seem a drastic step, it is necessary to protect the lives of local Maori, indeed all smokers. 

Ministry of Health mortality figures and demographic data released in 2009 show Tairawhiti Maori have the highest rate of mortality in Aotearoa for cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. 

Not only are Maori dying at twice the rate of non-Maori living in the same region but they are dying much younger than non-Maori. Tobacco smoking is amongst the highest risk contributors for such diseases and statistics show that Tairawhiti has the highest tobacco consumption rate nationally.

“Tairawhiti District Health officials have commented that the data resembles third-world figures inside a developed country and this is a travesty,” says Albie.

Turanganui PHO’s submission contains emotive words, hard-hitting comments and controversial recommendations. “…an industry with no purpose other than to kill past and future generations of whanau and hapu ….”, is an example. 

Albie makes no apology. He says the dismal picture painted in the submission is exactly the dilemma Tairawhiti Maori face, so something drastic needs to be done to protect future generations.

He expects some controversy, potentially some negative feedback, from whanau who are against any action to reduce or eliminate their desire for smoking.

He says such protests are often made with an “addictive discourse” and with little reference to the impacts of tobacco on generations of whanau and hapu.

Other recommendations in the submission include:

- Ban all tobacco displays and advertisements in Tairawhiti from point-of-sale by the end of this year.

- That a concerted marketing campaign be approved and implemented by the end of this year to destroy the tobacco industry.

- That a dedicated tax, additional to existing tobacco taxation revenue be established this year to support and fund services delivered specifically to whanau and hapu of Tairawhiti and Aotearoa.

-  That tobacco tax is increased each year beginning this year by five percent as recommended by the World  Bank and the World Health Organisation.

Te Runanga o Turanganui A Kiwa has also presented submissions to the Maori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into the Tobacco Industry. Submissions closed on January 29. 

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Prohibition of an addictive substance in this area is nothing new.

In 1911 Sir Apirana Ngata - Ngati Porou leader , land reformer, politician and scholar - introduced prohibition of alcohol on the East Coast which, despite strong protests, lasted for 10 years.

Turanganui Primary Health Organisation’s Albie Stewart says it was this achievement almost 100 years ago that provides the inspiration for the latest prohibition submission regarding tobacco.

“This historical achievement was captured in a haka called Poropeihana (Prohibition) to relay not only the protests but to also recognise the efforts of Sir Apirana who tried to persuade his people about the demons of alcohol,” says Albie.

Poropeihana is now an important historical haka which is still performed today. “Almost 100 years on East Coast/Tairawhiti iwi find themselves grappling with a similar situation, this time regarding smoking.To ask for anything less than prohibition is a continued death sentence for nearly twice the Maori population compared with non-Maori.”

 

By Helen Peterson

Many Samoan coastal-dwelling families have retreated inland and rebuilt their shattered lives after last year’s devastating tsunami, says recently returned Turanga Health nurse Celia Letufuga.

Of Samoan descent with family still living in the island nation, Celia felt deeply drawn back to her home country after the September 2009 tragedy. 

She was among a small group of nurses who visited Lalomanu families in their homes to complete health checks and provide wound care. Transport was extremely limited so the nurses spent many hours tramping through bush to attend to patients.

Celia says the people’s ability to move on with their lives and be happy with what they have is testament to their resilience.

“Many people had large, deep cuts caused by pieces of roofing iron but the wounds were healing well and showing no signs of infection.”

This was amazing considering there were no antibiotic ointments readily available. Wounds were cleaned with Savlon, a saline dressing was then applied, and a gauze bandage wound over the top. These bandages were re-used after being hand-washed and hung in the sun to dry.

When the nurses weren’t visiting homes on foot they were at Lalomanu District Hospital helping nurses with daily duties. Some days they would work until 11pm before collapsing into beds set up in an army tent beside the hospital.

By the time Celia reached the Lalomanu area in mid-December most of the debris had been cleared from the coastline but there were still boats, vehicles and parts of homes scattered around the inland bush vegetation.

While many of the families were living in temporary shelters, the dwellings were clean and tidy. The Samoan Government is helping to fund new housing for its people, she says.

“There has been no outbreak of disease like malaria or diarrhoea and this can be attributed to good wound-care management and personal hygiene,” says Celia.

Lush vegetable gardens have been established and there is no shortage of quality food. Donations of sugar, rice and flour were shared among the tsunami-affected families in the weeks immediately following the disaster but almost everything else is now grown in the gardens.

“There is no pre-packaged food or fizzy drinks, people are eating fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Celia. Welfare agencies like Red Cross and Oxfam deliver clean water to the villages.

“From a healthy lifestyle perspective this is positive to see because it also contributes to good wound care which ensures good healing.”  

For Celia the mission included two highlights. The first was being able to help people in need and the second was spending Christmas Day with her 84-year-old mother and extended family who live at Samatau.

Another Gisborne nurse, Anita Vaotuua who works for Awhina House, also travelled to Samoa.Celia and Anita will give a presentation about their trip featuring more photos and an emotive video made just three days after the tsunami hit. The presentation is open to all and will be Saturday 20 February at the Methodist Church Hall on the corner of Gladstone and Roebucks Road, 4pm.

In the future Celia would like to return to Samoa and visit the families she has helped. Seeing them happy and healthy would be reward enough.