Joint release | Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora

The national campaign to stop people smoking is seeking innovative, new ideas from the community across the motu. 

Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora are seeking applications for Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Innovation Grants of up to $50,000 each, part of a $1.26 million fund to help the country reach its smokefree goals.  

Ideas are being sought from grass-level groups to promote quit-smoking initiatives within the four priority populations: Māori, Pacific, tangata whaikaha, and people with mental health and addiction issues.  

Selah Hart, Maiaka Hapori Deputy Chief Executive Public and Population Health, Te Aka Whai Ora says we are looking for “new ideas and ways to encourage people within our community to quit smoking”.    

“We want to hear about how the initiative you are proposing is different to the stop smoking support avenues that already exist.   

“Initiatives should be developed by the community for the community.”   

The grants are part of the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan, which has been developed to eliminate the harm smoked tobacco products cause in our communities by transforming Aotearoa to a smokefree nation by 2025.    

The application process is expected to be open for the month of November.  Applicants will be notified of their application outcome in early 2024 and implementation of their initiatives to begin in March 2024.  

People keen to be involved can find more information and the application form (coming soon) here  or email innovation.fund@health.govt.nz.