Tobacco smoking

Indicator Māori Non-Māori
Males Females Total Males Females Total
Table 9: Daily smoking in people aged 14–15 years, by gender, Māori and non-Māori, 2014 [1]
Daily smoking (self-reported),
14–15 years, percent, 2014
5.4
(4.8–6.1)
8.8
(7.9–9.8)
7.2
(6.4–8.0)
1.7
(1.5–2.0)
1.7
(1.5–1.9)
1.7
(1.5–1.9)

Young Māori (aged 14–15 years) had a much higher prevalence of tobacco smoking than non‑Māori in the same age group.

Indicator Māori Non-Māori
Males Females Total Males Females Total
Table 10: Current smoking in people aged 15 and over, by gender, Māori and non-Māori, 2013/14 [2]
Current smoking (self-reported), 15+ years, percent, 2013/14 41.1
(36.4–45.9)
42.7
(39.5–46.0)
42.0
(39.2–44.9)
17.9
(16.2–19.8)
13.2
(12.0–14.5)
15.5
(14.5–16.6)

Māori adults were almost 3 times as likely as non-Māori adults to smoke (RR 2.71, CI 2.47–2.97). The disparity was greater for females: Māori females were more than 3 times as likely as non-Māori females to smoke (RR 3.23, CI 2.89–3.60).


1. Notes:

Source: ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey 2014


2. Notes:

  • Figures are age-standardised to the total Māori population as recorded in the 2001 Census.
  • Prioritised ethnicity has been used – see Ngā tapuae me ngā raraunga: Methods and data sources for further information.
  • ‘Current smoking’ refers to having smoked more than 100 cigarettes in a lifetime and currently smoking at least monthly.

Source: 2013/14 New Zealand Health Survey, Ministry of Health

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