9887 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

9887 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Further to WPQ 5644, what progress, if any, has been made in the last quarter (October - December 2023) on health promotion work programmes concerning 'Tobacco control and vaping'?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that in the October - December 2023 quarter, the health promotion work programme concerning tobacco control and vaping progressed several initiatives. These included: • Facilitation and coordination of the monthly national tobacco control sector hui. • Development of Let's Clear the Air, a guidance resource for schools to support the Vapefree and Smokefree kaupapa at primary, intermediate and secondary levels (published in March). • Consultation with stakeholders to support development of a video resource about nicotine replacement therapy, to assist stop smoking services and their clients. • Ongoing management of the Smokefree and Vaping Facts websites and related community and sector queries. • Ongoing management of tobacco and vaping-related health education resources. • Facilitation of an ideas exchange with Stanford University's REACH Lab (Research to Empower Adolescents to Choose Health), to support a strengths-based approach to youth vaping and prevention education. • Delivery of a regional Smokefree/Vapefree sports initiative, in partnership with Tasman Rugby Union, Nelson Marlborough public health teams, and Healthy Families Hutt Valley.