Dear Supporters
(You have seen this statistic. It demonstrates the nature of the problem, when primary and intermediate children, i.e. the very young, cannot remain at school due to their vaping. This update is a bit of a 'What now..')
Multiple letters to the major politicians of the primary parties, to heads of relevant departments, to the media, letters in the media, material read on 2ZB, all stating the simple clear facts, over 8 months, have effectively been ignored. All the stories and requests from families with vape-addicted children, specialist clinicians and GPs, and school principals, in the media and in submissions, have been ignored. Vaping remains statistically at epidemic levels throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand, in schools and in every community.
Vape specialty shops and other vape outlets are increasing, with no visible health warnings, the government provides no quitting programmes and misrepresents risk, while the tobacco/vape corporations and government make money from each deal.
Getting as many NZers as possible hooked on the toxic but sweet smelling, highly addictive drug while making it seem relatively innocuous appears to be the government intention, with Labour very much part of it, the referendum being ineffectual, as, as stated many times, all the above would have continued, but with recommendation at some stage for a reduction in specialty shops, while all dairies, service stations etc could legally still display and sell vapes with no health warnings, and online sales continue. Greens leaders are not protesting either.
Here again is some data in this sorry story:
https://www.asthmafoundation.org.nz/your-health/e-cigarettes-and-vaping/vaping-some-more-facts
The latest vaping rates reported for those aged 15-24 are a shocking 18.6%.
Such high usage, by a cohort, ill-informed about risk and with no government support or even advice about quitting is unconscionable. That almost 2000 primary and intermediate school children were stood down for vaping in 2023 is even more so. They, and all the rest who vape in this age group, do not of course understand the vulnerability of their airways and the risks their bodies are exposed to regarding brain and cardiovascular, as well as respiratory, damage and malfunction due to vaping. Neither would secondary school children or even adults know this information unless unusually well-informed. This is an abused, exploited group.
There are, in spite of this intensely depressing scenario, a few options if a government is acting corruptly, even if opposition parties are currently silent, and no lawyers are complaining, yet. The media have presented much, and these groups of adults cannot plead ignorance for their inertia.
Media and the law are the preferred weapons, and they can still be used.
Also, some politicians will be uneasy and unhappy with their country being one where the young are getting hooked, exploited, and not helped to stop.
I believe we must keep going to have NZ join the vast majority of countries with tight vape regulations and we each must insist, especially to politicians, on these, as a start:
- proper responsible health warnings as in the US or Australia*, online, on packaging etc
- quitting programmes as in the US or Australia**
- no vapes or vape advertising on display
Lobbying councillors too is useful, as they will often see the issues, most belong to a party, and they can be an influence.
Social media can be a powerful tool of course.
Note - Change.org no longer has a comments option at the bottom of updates. Hopefully this will be reinstated. If you get more people signing, they can still post a comment on why they signed.
Best wishes, be safe, and thank you for signing and being involved!
* https://www.health.gov.au/topics/smoking-vaping-and-tobacco/about-vaping
** https://www.health.gov.au/topics/smoking-vaping-and-tobacco/how-to-quit/quitting-methods