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Wednesday 12 February 2025 (Online)

Over a decade ago, the New Zealand government set a goal to become essentially ‘smokefree’ by 2025. Come along to learn about whether we are on track to reach our goal this year.

This half-day online course will provide you with the most up to date information on government tobacco policy reversals and other changes, inequities in smoking prevalence, experiences and views of people who smoke, the impacts of nicotine addiction, and tobacco industry interference.

We will introduce you to new ideas and discuss how these could influence evolving public health policy to achieve a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa New Zealand.

Register now

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Topics covered

  • What the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Goal is and why it matters
  • The latest tobacco and nicotine policy changes (decreased heated tobacco product excise tax, new vaping regulations, and the proposed introduction of oral nicotine products), whether they will help or hinder us in improving public health, and where to next
  • Identifiable barriers to achieving the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Goal, including tobacco industry influence

Style of course

Online Symposium – Multi-speaker presentations via zoom webinar.

Who should attend?

This course will be useful for anyone interested in public health, equity, and the benefits of reducing smoking prevalence. The content will be relevant to health professionals, health promoters, analysts, advocates, and researchers, working locally or nationally.

Note: This course is NOT open to individuals working with or for any tobacco, vaping, or alternative nicotine product (ANP) companies, or who are affiliated with tobacco, vaping, or ANP industries in any way, including receiving direct or indirect funds from these industries/companies.

Nor are they open to any individuals or groups who have interests in or relationships with tobacco, vaping or ANP companies including, but not limited to, the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) and FSFW grantees, or Global Action to End Smoking (GAES) and GAES grantees.

Draft timetable

TimeContentPresenter
12.30pm Welcome and introductions Andrew Waa and Janine Nip
12:.40pm The Smokefree 2025 Goal- is it an endpoint or a stepping stone?

An outline of what the goal is, the latest information on policy in Aotearoa, and what is happening to smoking prevalence.
Janine Nip
1:10pm How have recent policy changes influenced tobacco and nicotine use?

Updates from EASE and Youth and Young Adults Survey on use of cigarettes, vapes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine products. Qualitative findings from the Adolescent Friendships and Lifestyles study on the impact of Dec 2023/March 2024 vaping regulation changes on adolescent vaping.
Jude Ball and Michaela Pettie
2:00pm Group Discussions: What are the main challenges in achieving endgames; what should our short- and medium-term goals be? N/A
2:45pm Break 
3:00pm The impacts of incorporating alternative nicotine products as a means to reach the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Goal.

Findings from our recent studies provide insights into the trajectory from experimentation to addiction, along with addiction’s effects on young people’s perceptions of stigma and sense of self-worth.
Anna Graham-DeMello and Lani Teddy
3:30pm Understanding how tobacco and nicotine industry influence public health policymaking.

Gain insight into the visible and behind-the-scenes ways in which industry actors work to influence the regulatory environment in Aotearoa.
Melissa-Jade Gregan
4:00pm Group Discussions: Priorities for future action and research. N/A
4:45pm Overview and close Andrew Waa

Teaching staff

Location

This course is online.

Course cost and registration

NZD$125 early bird, NZD$200 after Thursday 19 December 2024.

A 50% discount is available to full-time students, those unwaged and University of Otago staff.

Register now

For further information please contact

Contact name
ASPIRE Aotearoa or Dr Janine Nip
Email
aspire.aotearoa@otago.ac.nz
janine.nip@otago.ac.nz
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