Te kōrero o Matire Seath , Matire's story
Mātire Seath, is one of the Te Hotu Manawa Māori whānau – she has been a rock for the Kai Totika Me Whakapakari Tinana (nutrition and physical activity) service, for nearly two years, and during this time, Mā (as she is known to her mates) has quit smoking and stayed smokefree.
| Matire Seath, at her desk, at Te Hotu Manawa Māori, Mt Eden, Auckland. |
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Moana Tāne spent some of Mā’s busy time at work, to talk to her about her whānau, her work and her life as an Auahi Kore success story.
Leonie Matoe (national manager for Kai Totika) offered me some casual work about two years ago. I knew that the kaupapa was nutrition and being Auahi Kore, and I thought, “I’ve got an opportunity to be fully employed”, as I was only working part-time and supporting both myself and my daughter on a benefit.
Mā had just returned from living in Australia for a year, when she came back to New Zealand, she had taken some time off work to spend with her young daughter.
Going back to work was a change for me – it was full time, there was a strong kaupapa, and I realised, I was also ready to make more changes. I met with one of my colleagues at Te Hotu Manawa Māori, and she gave me advice on quitting, I got a Quit Card and on the way home to Helensville, I called in at the Unichem Pharmacy at Kumeu.
I took the nicotine replacement therapy patches and gum for two days – then I stopped! I thought, “I can do this for myself!” And I did.
Quitting smoking was about me making a decision – and that was it!
I still have the NRT in my wardrobe at home – they are there if anyone needs them.
Mā and her sister Val bought a house in 2008. ‘It was raining the day we took possession, but we moved in anyway! Greatest move we could have ever done’.
Mā’ is a real family girl and so for her, whānau and their smoking is a huge issue. She takes every opportunity she can to talk to them about trying to quit.
Mā started off smoking when she was in her teens, and it was a social habit, when she went out for a drink, and when she was around whānau who smoked, she’d smoke with them.
It was coffee and a smoke on the deck for us – it got to be a habit, it was what we did.
I’ve seen smoking a lot, especially in the past couple of years with tangi we’ve suffered in our whanau; at the marae – outside the kitchen area, after food preparation, they’re all there smoking! You don’t realise how many people come together to smoke – and it’s when you catch up with the whānau.
My whānau know that their smoking is hurting them, they just need to look at all the deaths in our whānau. They don’t think about hurting their kids by dying at 50.
I think my bleating on to them and nagging them might help but obviously they are not ready to try quitting, not ready to give up smoking.
Moana asked Mā about her thoughts on why our young women smoke:
I really don’t think seeing the Aunties smoke has helped. My 17-22 year old cousins’ smoke, their mothers’ smoke and their aunties smoke.
But then again, it could be their peers at school, cause I remember seeing the girls smoking on the field too when I was at school.
For me, it started when I was drinking, then I picked it up at about age 20 but when I fell pregnant with my daughter, I decided to give up, as soon as the tests were confirmed!. My daughter was then 3 weeks old, I remember the day as clear as anything. I received some disturbing news and got in my car, drove straight to the shop, bought me a packet of smokes and lit up in the car. I continued smoking for the next few years.
When asked about why she had taken smoking up again, Mā had this to say:
My Dad had quit for 20 years, and the day his boss died, he started again, and now he smokes about a packet (20-25) a day. I think obviously everyone is different ‘each to their own’ but for me, the news I received triggered something in my head, and that was it. Off to the shop I went.
Mā was worried about her whānau too – she said:
I wish my Mum would give up. She’s 47. To be honest, my Nana died in her early 50’s and I’m worried about that. I still remember that, and all those who have died too.
I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to my mum. She’s my rock and like most whanau, the back bone to our family.
If you would like to make comments about Mā’s story or feedback on any part of her kōrero, please send an email to:
Congratulations Mā on all you have achieved!
Nga mihi,
Na Moana
Moana Tāne
Māori Health Manager
Access and Optimal Use
PHARMAC