A kaupapa using the koauau to support smoking and vaping cessation in Rotorua is evolving, with powerful insights from rangatahi helping shape its next direction.
“We didn’t rush to fix the symptom. We dug deeper to understand what was really going on,” says Healthy Families Rotorua Systems Innovator, Teteira Ormsby.
The kaupapa is being developed by a collaboration between Healthy Families Rotorua, Te Arawa Whānau Ora, Manaaki Ora, and Tangata Ora – Ranolf Medical Centre. It weaves together pūrākau, maramataka, tikanga and taonga pūoro to support breathing, calm, connection, and healing.
This year, the kaupapa expanded to better understand youth vaping and to explore hapū, whānau, and community-led solutions.
Teteira says what emerged was sobering. He says in some Rotorua kura, more than 35% of rangatahi reported regular vape use, with many starting as young as 12. However, the data suggested more than a health crisis.
“This wasn’t just about nicotine. It was a cultural, social and environmental issue. Vaping filled more than lungs — it filled gaps,” he says.
That single insight reshaped the direction of the mahi. Rangatahi shared that vaping was less about addiction and more about filling voids — boredom, loneliness, pressure, and stress. Some used it as a shield, while others saw it as a rite of passage.
“We heard time and again that rangatahi didn’t want solutions thrown at them. They wanted to be seen and understood through their own culture and their own experiences. They needed something to belong to,” says Teteira.
In response, a new phase of the kaupapa was co-designed: Te Hau o te Ora – The Breath of Life. It builds on the original koauau model and introduces creative journaling, maramataka-based planning, and culturally grounded tools developed with artists, hauora providers, educators, and hapū.
“We’re partnering with hapū who are already doing the mahi, amplifying their aspirations, backing their ideas, and making space for new leadership to emerge,” says Teteira.
Pilot testing is planned for the coming months, with rangatahi engagement and ongoing evaluation to guide future development.
“We’re not creating a programme. We’re helping ignite a movement. One that breathes life into prevention, culture, and rangatahi potential,” says Teteira.
