At the Southern Stop Smoking Service, stopping smoking is about much more than quitting cigarettes. It is about strengthening hauora and walking alongside people, whānau, workplaces, and communities as they move toward better health. Hauora is holistic, encompassing physical wellbeing, mental and emotional health, social connection, and a sense of belonging, and this understanding shapes everything we do.
We provide a free, Southern-wide stop smoking/vaping service that supports people across the region through both community group clinics and one-on-one support. With eight dedicated site coaches operating throughout the Southern region, our service is local, responsive, and deeply connected to the communities we serve.
Rather than expecting people to come to us, we go to where the people are. We meet individuals in their own communities, in local venues, community spaces, workplaces, and settings where they already feel comfortable and supported. By removing barriers such as travel, cost, and time, we make it easier for people to take that first step toward becoming smoke/vape free.
This approach recognises that stopping smoking does not happen in isolation. People live busy, complex lives, and change is more sustainable when support is accessible and flexible. Some people prefer the connection and shared experience of a group setting, while others benefit from one-on-one support tailored to their individual needs. We adapt our service to fit the person, not the other way around.
Our coaches walk alongside individuals at their own pace, offering encouragement, practical tools, and ongoing support. Every journey is different. Some people are ready to quit straight away, while others are still exploring what change might look like for them, and we honour all stages of that journey. Support is available not only to individuals, but also through referrals from health providers, workplaces, and community organisations. This collaborative approach helps build a wider network of care, ensuring people feel supported not just by our service, but by their wider community as well.
Workplaces play an important role in community wellbeing, and we actively support organisations to promote smoke-free environments. By delivering support directly in workplaces, we help reduce barriers for staff who may otherwise struggle to access services. This contributes not only to improved individual health outcomes, but also to healthier, more supportive workplace cultures. Our presence in community settings also helps normalise conversations about stopping smoking and reinforces the message that support is available, without judgement and without cost.
As part of our service, we provide free nicotine replacement therapy, including gum, lozenges, and patches, to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms while whānau focus on building new habits and routines.
The Southern Stop Smoking Service is completely free and available to everyone. Accessibility is central to our kaupapa, with flexible appointment options and multiple referral pathways. Individuals, whānau, health providers, workplaces, and community organisations can refer or get in touch with us directly by phone on (03) 214 5260 or free phone 0800 925 242, by email at admin@stopsmoking.nz, or through our easy-to-use online referral form: https://nkmp.maori.nz/stop-smoking-referral-form/
Every smoke-free journey strengthens not only the individual, but their whānau and wider community. By supporting people in places that matter to them, the Southern Stop Smoking Service contributes to stronger hauora outcomes across the region. We are proud to stand alongside our communities, listening, supporting, and walking with people toward a smoke-free future.
