Kiwa

I was about 15 when I started smoking casually. I was 17 when I started smoking often, like, became a smoker. It was a really petty 17-year-old girl thing – my boyfriend cheated on me and because he hated smoking, I was like stuff you… I only intended to do it for a couple of weeks, but it stuck.

My parents didn’t smoke until after I left home. My grandparents smoked but not in the house I lived in. My friends that I flatted with, they all smoked. And my friend that I hang out with most now, she smokes.

My ex-partner – we split up – he smokes too. But he’s very much involved with the children and we’re equal on the time we have in the roles we play. The children also go to daycare.

I smoke roll-your-owns and I probably have about 6 to 10 a day. When I have the kids, I get their breakfast ready, I put their cartoon on the TV and I just pop outside the ranchslider for a cigarette. 

Lockdown

I’ve had a lot go on this last year. I rely on the cigarettes for stress release. Our rental property became uninhabitable because of the landlord not maintaining it. That happened during level 4 lockdown. We ended up in emergency housing. Because of the condition of the house, and not having access to moving facilities, all of our belongings were ruined. It’s been a tough process rebuilding. It led to me and my ex-partner splitting up – which is quite sad. But we were both affected and couldn’t cope and function ourselves, let alone be there for each other.  

With all the isolation and stuff, too… I actually have quite bad social anxiety.
I am finding that when I am around a lot of people and I get overwhelmed, I’m walking away from the situation, just to get away from it. Sometimes I’m having a cigarette when I don’t really want a cigarette – it’s just my little escape.

I definitely ended up smoking more.

Quit attempts?

I didn’t smoke during both of my pregnancies. I think it’s ’cause when I was pregnant, like, I was doing it for my babies. If I quit tomorrow, I’d be quitting for myself and I just can’t stick to it. I’ve tried. In 2019, I tried to engage with a quit smoking service. It was very difficult to get hold of them. My call just never went through. 

Healthcare support to stop smoking

When I was younger and I was a bit shy, like reserved, and not sticking up for myself, some of my doctors were quite in my face about my smoking.  But when I was 22, I think it was, I turned around to the doctor and said, like, “I appreciate this is probably part of your job but I’m not actually ready or interested”. And so they bring it up when I have an appointment, but I just tell them no.

Tried vaping?

I have a vape that I sometimes use when I can’t afford smokes. I enjoy it.

I previously tried vaping a number of times but I could never find the right device or juice that I liked with the appropriate nicotine content that didn’t really burn my throat. The stronger nicotine was like needles in my throat. It’s nothing like smoking.

I finally found a juice I like and a device that I like. I prefer the taste of the really sweet vape juice with none of that icy feeling, and nothing that tastes like a cigarette.

I’m asthmatic and as far as I can tell my smoking’s never been a trigger for asthma. It’s never triggered an episode or an instance of wheezing. But if I use a vape juice that has the ice, it instantly triggers an asthma attack. I don’t know if it’s just that cold feeling that irritates the parts that get irritated with asthma?  The first time it happened I was, like, oh my gosh and I thought I just couldn’t vape. But, then I finally tried one without ice and it was fine.

I know in the long-term, overall, smoking cigarettes won’t be helping my asthma. But on an acute level I’ve never had a cigarette and then started having an asthma attack or having trouble breathing. If I run or do any exercise, that triggers my asthma. And, yeah, the smoking probably affects that also.

Before I had the vape, I found that smoking kinda almost took over my life.  When I was going places, I’d be stopping every now and then to have a cigarette and it would just really throw off the productivity of my day. Now that I’ve got the vape, I find my day moves quicker because I’m not stopping to have the cigarettes. Like, if the kids aren’t in the car with me I will sometimes use my vape in the car. 

Bans on where people can smoke…

I don’t ever smoke in the car and I don’t smoke in the house. I have a rental, so I can’t do that anyway. But I wouldn’t want to for my children as well.

I think that the ban on smoking in cars with children was a really good idea, ’cause I don’t think our children should have to be exposed to what we expose ourselves to. If I’m outside having a cigarette and my children are running ‘round on the lawn, that’s one thing, ’cause there’s open fresh air. But I couldn’t imagine, even if it was still legal, being in a car and smoking a cigarette with my children in the back. That’s just yuck for them and not good for their health. Even when my children aren’t in the car I don’t smoke in my car because it’s too nice of a car.

There’s places that you can’t smoke and it’s disruptive. I know why it has to happen – New Zealand wants to be smoke-free. But it makes it a bit challenging. Sometimes I have to kind of go out of my way to go somewhere that I know is okay to smoke.

Home-grown tobacco

A boyfriend I had a long time ago, he wanted to try it but it was terrible and it was difficult to roll because obviously we don’t have the tools to cut the tobacco how the tobacco companies do it. It was just awful.

Smokefree 2025

I don’t have an attitude for or against Smokefree 2025 because I’m not sure it’s gonna happen. We had Smokefree 2020 and that didn’t work out. 

If it happens, it happens and I’ll be probably upset that I can’t smoke anymore but I’m not like, oh my gosh the Government’s fucked, they’re gonna stop us from being able to smoke.

I’m not a politician. I’m not really knowledgeable about politics. I just kind of feel, in putting up the taxes from smoking so much, the Government has created a kind of crutch for itself. They’re probably bringing in a decent amount of money from people smoking. Then they use the money to do whatever. They’re getting a nice little nest egg to push their policies and their schemes through. So, I’m not sure how committed the Government is to actually being smoke-free. 

They’re saying they’re committed to ending child poverty. But each time they put the cigarette prices up they’re expanding New Zealand poverty, because if the parents want to smoke that badly then it could possibly be the children who miss out on things that they would usually have. I actually struggle a lot because of bills and the kids’ costs because the price is impossible.

I don’t feel that New Zealand’s social infrastructure is equipped to support everyone who will need support if Smokefree 2025 goes through. New Zealand’s mental health system needs a lot of work.

I have borderline personality disorder and so I struggle quite regularly with my mental health. The cigarettes are a big kind of coping mechanism for me. I imagine a lot of other people that smoke use it for the same reason. It’s really difficult to get the appropriate support through the mental health service to not have to rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms.

I should be under a mental health service constantly because borderline personality disorder is quite erratic. Things can be okay and then, I go from, I’m having a good day, this is awesome… then something will happen and I’m instantly like, I want to die. It’s really difficult to navigate the mental health system because they’re so overwhelmed. Every time I’m okay and I’m doing fine, they just discharge me from the service because they’re overwhelmed. 

Legalising cannabis

I wasn’t really fazed about whether the law passed or not for people to be able to recreationally smoke cannabis. I have tried it when I was younger but it wasn’t for me. I don’t smoke cannabis myself, but I live with chronic pain and I’ve done so since I was 18. I was looking forward to the cannabis legislation being passed because it would make medicinal products more affordable for people who need it.  The medicinal stuff is not affordable at all and the alternative medication that I can afford – the side effects are crazy. With tramadol and codeine, I can’t drive, I’m dozy. I’m not a fun, exciting mum when I need to take those. So, I’m a bit disappointed that it was a no.

I think it’s a bit disappointing that people voted ‘for’ people with debilitating health conditions being able to opt to end their life. But, they voted ‘against’ people being able to have affordable access to medication that could help them continue their life and have a better life so they wouldn’t want to end their life.

My mum just passed away. It was very sudden.  I’ve been all over the place, it’s been crazy. I don’t work and I’m having to travel to and from up north to sort out heaps of stuff. It’s a bit of a mess. She didn’t have a will and they still had a mortgage on the house. I’m the oldest, so it’s been up to me to help sort things out.

I’m definitely smoking more. I’m up and down really. I’ve got support – help from friends. It’s just over a year since my daughter was born and my kids go to their dad’s, and they have been really supportive.

Maybe it’s important for your study – my mother did smoke and she had a stroke . Her smoking might have been a factor for her heart attack. I hope that might be helpful?

Mum had a hereditary blood-clotting disorder. I probably have it as well. I had a blood clot when I was only 19. It was very minor and I didn’t receive any medical intervention because by the time I got seen, the clot had dislodged on its own. I just have to do something really soon about quitting smoking.

Vaping?

I vape in the car.

The funeral

My mum had a little hybrid funeral. We had it at home, rather than at the marae. Mum liked to have a beer and she liked to smoke the green herb. So if you wanted to sit next to her and have a beer or smoke a joint, you could. You can’t do that at the marae. A lot of people said it was the best funeral they’d been to. There was lots of people.

It’s just been a bit crazy. I’m smoking more definitely, ha ha. I had a bit of a set-back with my chronic health condition. But it’s coming right now.

I’m living in a flatting situation now with close friends of mine. So, it’s an okay environment for kids – it’s people I trust. But getting used to living with 2 boys has been probably contributing to my smoking increase, ha ha. I’m like, holy shit dude. I need a cigarette and chill-out before I lose my mind.

Health professionals support to stop smoking

I haven’t told them about my smoking, ha ha, otherwise they’ll start hassling me to quit. My mum’s passing revealed there’s a genetic mutation that runs in my family which causes blood clots and that related directly to my mum’s heart attack. And she was a smoker. I’m awaiting my test results to see if I have it. My younger brother and sister tested before me, and they both have it. I assume that I have it because I had a blood clot when I was only 19, and I have a history of multiple miscarriages because my blood’s more susceptible to clot. It is a bit of a weight off – knowing that there is something that could’ve caused the miscarriages ‘cos I did really have that, like, oh it’s my fault 'cause I didn’t find out early enough and didn’t stop smoking and blah, blah, blah.

If I have it, it will affect my decision whether I keep smoking. I’ve had the same GP for a couple of years now and she’s great. She’s leaving me alone with my smoking and drinking while I don’t have the test results. But if I get a positive result back, she will be hounding me to quit. 

Vaping and smoking

In my friend group, all of us smoke or vape. We all have cigarettes throughout the night and when we’re not smoking, we’re vaping. We’ve always got something in our hands that we’re puffing on. I find vaping really helpful when I’m drinking, otherwise I’m gonna be smoking a whole packet in a night. When I’ve got my vape, I’m not smoking that much.

Of course, when my kids are with me, there’s no vaping inside. When the kids aren’t around, if we’re having mates around for drinks, we’re inside and we’re vaping and outside’s for smoking cigarettes.

I’ve got a really big bedroom me and the kids share. I never vape in there just in case, ‘cos not enough studies have been done yet and I wouldn’t want anything settling into their bedding that we don’t know about yet. We vape in the kitchen and dining area, but having said that, we don’t know a lot about vaping yet. Everyone’s said it’s a much better alternative, but I’m not sure about that, ha ha.

For someone like me, I think vaping’s more dangerous than smoking, 'cause I have asthma. I think breathing the vapour, like, liquid into my lungs, probably isn’t helping my asthma. It’s not significantly worse, but I notice a difference. If it’s been a rainy day and I don’t wanna go outside for a cigarette and I’ve been vaping, I need my inhaler more. Even a steamy shower, I’ll need my inhaler for that. At one point, I quit smoking and just vaped, and my asthma was atrocious.  I was like, nah, I need to have a cigarette, ha ha. But my asthma’s quite mild. I’m never gonna die from an asthma attack. If I had severe asthma, I wouldn’t have smoked or vaped in the first place.  

One thing I’ve noticed - there’s mod vapes, and pod vapes. Mod vapes you breathe directly into your lungs, and pod vapes you suck it into your mouth and then breathe it in. With the mod vapes, my asthma would get really bad. I use pod vapes now and it’s not so bad. I like pod vapes ‘cos the mouth-to-lung feels more like smoking a cigarette. But vaping’s definitely not the same as smoking, ha ha. 

Black market tobacco

I’ve been smoking tailor-mades a bit more as well, because I’ve come across a place that illegally imports cigarettes from overseas and so I’ll get some sometimes. They’re cigarettes from Korea. I get Marlboro ones and they cost me $21 for a pack of 20 and they taste exactly the same as Marlboro’s you’d buy from the dairy for close to $40. The nicotine content in each cigarette is on the side of the packet - 8 milligrams in the packet. So, over a packet of 20, there’s 8 mgs of nicotine. The warning pictures are a bit more graphic than the ones in New Zealand.

Korean cigarettes are interesting because halfway along the filter part there’s a perforated line that runs around through the paper. So, people have an option - if you put your lips before the perforated line, you get less smoke. If you put your lips past the perforated line, you get more smoke. It’s definitely different. And they have all sorts of, like, flavoured cigarettes. We’ve never been able to buy flavoured cigarettes in New Zealand. They have a brand that’s got like, little balls that you pop for menthol cigarettes or sweet flavours, like yoghurt, milkshakes, and fruit flavours. And some of their filters are flavoured. After you’ve been smoking, if you lick your lips, your lips are sweet. You can taste the flavours. 

Smokefree 2025 proposed policies

Low or no nicotine cigarettes

I’d probably buy them if they’re cheaper. I don’t think my smoking is about nicotine. I think it’s about the habit ‘cause, you know, I vape and when the kids aren’t home, I can vape inside. My vape has quite a bit of nicotine in it, but I still have that craving for a cigarette ‘cause I like that whole, I’m going outside with a book and a drink and I’m gonna have a couple of cigarettes and just chill-out.

Banning vape flavours other than tobacco, mint & menthol 

Apparently, you can’t buy vape flavours in dairies anymore – it has to be like a specialised vape shop. I don’t know about banning all the flavours 'cause the reason I vape is I like the taste. I mix a whole bunch of flavours. I’ve got my flavour that’s quite weak, then I add a little bit of my workmate’s Vanilla, and my flatmate’s Peach Ice. It’s a nice little blend I have going on.

I wouldn’t be upset if they banned menthol cigarettes - they’re disgusting, ha ha.

People born after 2004 will be banned from ever buying tobacco 

If they implement it this year - yeah. But if it takes them a couple of years, they need to move it along to 2005, 2006. Maybe it needs to be younger. Gosh, I had my first cigarette when I was 14 and I know it’s not gonna stop them, 'cause 14-year-olds can’t buy cigarettes anyway. If they implemented it now for people who are 13 and 14 now, then by the time they’re 18 it’s already been a number of years that they’ve not been like, ‘oh well, we’re not allowed to buy smokes.’ I do think people are starting to smoke younger and younger. Our friend group ranges quite dramatically in age and there’s, you know, 16, 17-year-olds smoking that are around parties I’ve been to.