Plaudits for tobacco control researchers

ASPIRE staff Professor Richard Edwards (front, left), Lani Teddy (back row, third from right) and Associate Professor Andrew Waa (front, centre) and partner Wendy Barry on his left with Indigenous and Pacific tobacco control advocates and researchers from Aotearoa, including: Te Rōpū Tupeka Kore chair Whaea Sue Taylor (centre, right), former Te Reo Marama Director Shane Bradbrook (second from right, front row), leading tobacco-resistance Australian academic Raglan Maddox (front, right), Hāpai Te Hauora CEO Jacqui Harema (back row, second from right), and representatives from Takiri Mai te Ata, the Cancer Society, Tala Pasifika, AUT and Hāpai Te Hauora (back row).

Researchers from the Wellington campus's ASPIRE Aotearoacentre have been recognised for their contributions to tobacco control at the prestigious Oceania Tobacco Control Conference held on the Gold Coast last month.

ASPIRE Co-director Professor Janet Hoek received the Nigel Gray Award which recognises 'unsung heroes' whose tobacco control efforts in the Oceania region have significantly advanced health outcomes for the public. The award was established by Cancer Council Victoria (Australia) and is named after Dr Nigel Gray, a pioneer of tobacco control in Australia and internationally.

Fellow Co-director Associate Professor Andrew Waa was presented with the Dame Tariana TuriaAward for significant contributions to Indigenous tobacco control outcomes, and persistence in the face of opposition and criticism regarding Indigenous people and their rights to a tobacco-free generation.

A team from ASPIRE also received the award for best conference abstract in recognition of research excellence for their abstract, 'Experiences of vaping addiction among adolescents in AotearoaNew Zealand: A qualitative inquiry'. The abstract was written by Anna Graham-DeMello and Professor Hoek, presented by Dr Jude Ball and co-authored by Lani Teddy. It was based on research conducted by summer students Carissa Sanders and Renee Hoskin under the supervision of Professor Hoek and Anna Graham-DeMello.

Associate Professor Andrew Waa.

ASPIRE Co-director Professor Richard Edwards says the awards reflect the excellence and public health importance of all the recipients' work in providing evidence to support the equitable achievement of a tupeka kore(tobacco-free) Aotearoa.

"Associate Professor Waa's award acknowledges his sustained contribution through excellence in research and his fearless and values-based advocacy for the tupeka kore goal. Professor Hoek is an incredibly worthy recipient of the prestigious international Nigel Gray award."

Professor Edwards says the award for best abstract reflects ASPIREAotearoa's expertise in adolescent and youth health-related behaviours, particularly in relation to tobacco and nicotine product use and policy.

"I am particularly pleased to see Dr Ball, Anna Graham-DeMello and Lani Teddy recognised as emerging leaders in this important field."