11 Jun 2009

Smoking figures for Maori teens still high

11:05 am on 11 June 2009

A study by lobby group Action on Smoking and Health suggests fewer 14 and 15-year-olds are smoking but the figures for Maori teenagers remain high.

More than 30,000 year ten students completed ASH's survey in 2008.

Overall, 14% of girls and 10% of boys said they were regular smokers.

Both figures were about 1% lower than in 2007.

But the survey found 22% of Maori girls said they smoked regularly, as did 18% of Maori boys.

Associate Health Minister and Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia wants a review of all quit smoking programmes.

ASH says greater restrictions are needed on where tobacco products can be purchased.

Spokesperson Dr Janine Paynter also thinks the tax on cigarettes should be higher.