We should fund results, not ideology
“Takiri Mai te Ata Trust regional manager Catherine Manning said the Wellington-based trust received an email this week stating it had to either start supplying the vape kits or have its contract terminated, despite signing a new contract earlier that year.”
They are funded to stop people smoking.
“Health NZ gives the trust just under $3 million across a two year period. It must complete targets to renew its contract – such as having 60% of its referrals enrolled, and recieved [sic] 1500 referrals last year.”
So, Takiri Mai te Ata Trust had to enrol at least 1,500 smokers over two years at a minimum average cost of $2,000 each. What Stuff does not ask, or tell readers, is what the Trust’s quit rate was. They were given $3 million of taxpayer funding and that is a lot of money.
It transpires that Casey Costello’s $575,000 vape kit trial, which got a lot of stick from the usual suspects at Otago Public Health, has contributed 36% of all confirmed quitters in just the first eight months of 2025. That is amazing data so why does Stuff bury it:
“Of the 5261 people who quit smoking between January and August this year, 1889 people – 36% of people who quit smoking – used a Health New Zealand vape kit.”
At $319 per confirmed quitter, this seems great value compared to a minimum $2,000 for an enrolled smoker at the Takiri Mai te Ata Trust, where we have no clue as to how many quit after millions of taxpayers dollars.
Despite 25-years of taxpayer support for the Takiri Mai te Ata Trust, potentially adding up to tens of millions, the words of Trust regional manager Catherine Manning suggest it had forgotten the point of taxpayer funding, is smoking cessation:
“Vaping did not morally or ethically align with Māori tikanga, and she said the trust had a desire to protect both the breath and the whakapapa.”
That’s nice. But if they won’t use the methods that are most effective in getting Maori to stop smoking, then they shouldn’t expect taxpayer money for being ineffective.
Full marks to Casey Costello for backing what works and axing what doesn’t.