Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Maori Party want to ban smoking

These are the most recent statistics from Te Puni Kokiri;

Māori smokers
Overall, Māori were twice as likely as non-Māori to smoke. Statistics from the 1996 Census indicate that 44% of the Māori population aged 15 years and over were smokers, compared to 21% of the non-Māori population (Table 1). Māori were also less likely than non-Māori to be ex-smokers.


Are Maori Party voters going to be angry about the now official policy to make smoking illegal? I have one received opinion which says, no. They are only interested in what the Maori Party can achieve in respect of the Treaty and property rights. Hone Harawira can get away with it because of his mana. He'll be seen to be doing what is best for his iwi.

I vehemently disagree. Otherwise I'd have to concede that Maori want to be told what to do.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

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