Tariana Turia to receive international tobacco control award

Hon Tariana Turia to receive international tobacco control award

Smokefree Coalition media release 20 January 2015

A nomination by the Smokefree Coalition for Associate Health Minister Hon Tariana Turia to receive a 2015 Luther L Terry Award has been accepted. Hon Ms Turia will be presented with the award in March 2015 in Dubai.

Named for the late United States Surgeon General Luther L Terry, whose groundbreaking work established the foundation for public health scrutiny of the dangers of tobacco use, the Awards honour outstanding leadership and accomplishment and signify that the recipients are among the very best in the world at what they do.

Hon Ms Turia’s nomination was supported by Pacific Heartbeat, the Heart Foundation and Hapai Te Hauora.

Smokefree Coalition Director Dr Prudence Stone said she made the nomination to acknowledge Hon Ms Turia’s tremendous, tireless and courageous work in championing a smokefree New Zealand.

“In her time in Parliament Hon Ms Turia has introduced no less than five pieces of legislation that have achieved increases in excise tax, banned retail displays of tobacco products, reduced duty free allowances and introduced plain packaging.

“She has also promoted smokefree cars where children are present and set in place a NZ$20 million ‘Innovation Fund’ for projects that will increase effective cessation among New Zealand’s priority populations.”

There are currently in excess of 10 innovative cessation projects operating in New Zealand that are funded by this programme.

Pacific Heartbeat Manager and Smokefree Coalition Board member Louisa Ryan said that in addition to her massive Parliamentary output, Hon Ms Turia should also be recognised for both her courage and her compassion.

“The Minister’s fearlessness in the face of constant criticism and opposition (both from within Parliament and from the tobacco industry) has been pivotal.

“At the same time, she has also advocated strongly for the interests of people who smoke, raising awareness of the highly addictive nature of tobacco, and calling for empathy and understanding of the plight of those who addicted to tobacco.”

Hapai Te Hauora CEO and Smokefree Coalition Board member Lance Norman said Hon Ms Turia has shown a steadfast commitment to tobacco control for Maori as well as other New Zealanders.

“Her re-framing of tobacco control in the context of inequalities between Maori and non Maori New Zealanders has been fundamental in raising public awareness and engagement. Nobody has achieved more in terms of reducing the smoking burden carried by Maori in New Zealand.”

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