A Maori smokefree advocate has been recognised internationally for his work.
Shane Bradbrook from Te Reo Marama has been at the forefront of anti-smoking initiatives in New Zealand.
He also successfully challenged the Philip Morris multinational tobacco company for using Maori imagery to market cigarettes in Israel.
Mr Bradbrook told Waatea News it was humbling to receive the Nigel Gray award at last week's Oceania Tobacco Control Conference in Darwin.
It was the first time an indigenous person has received the award and also the first time a non-doctor had done so.
"It's nice to be validated by such a prestigious award," he said.
Mr Bradbrook says the next item on his agenda is the Maori Affairs Select Committee investigation into the tobacco industry.
