16 Dec 2009

Smoking by kaumatua seen as setting bad example

9:54 pm on 16 December 2009

A Northland health worker says smoking among rangitahi has reached epidemic proportions as elders pass the habit on to young people.

The Stroke Foundation cites smoking as a major reason for Taitokerau being over-represented in the number of people having strokes.

The coordinator of Ngati Wai's smoking cessation programme, Clint Edmonds told Waatea News that kaumatua sitting around on the marae smoking are setting a bad example for young people.

He says there have been incidents of young people robbing shops just to get cigarettes.