Kia ora koutou

This month I want to express a growing concern I have regarding young people vaping in our communities. 

This is a wider social issue that is having a significant impact on Shirley Boys’ High School, and unfortunately there is an exponential rise in boys bringing vapes and vaping at school.

This presents two issues:

The first is the health issue. Vaping is not safe. It may be promoted as an alternative to smoking but there are still chemicals in vaping products which are harmful and there is a rise of lung related issues due to vaping. There are also a number of unknown facts about vaping. It is not fully known what chemicals make up the vapor and how they affect physical health over the long term. Lastly, they are addictive and many contain nicotine.

The second issue is the accessibility of vapes to our young people. They are inexpensive, they are infused with ‘fruity flavours’ - which is particularly appealing to children, and they are advertised by some as being a healthy option, despite many vapes containing more nicotine than cigarettes. There is also an ethical issue with the manufacturers of vaping products related to the cigarette industry. This is an industry that has had a significant negative health and financial impact worldwide over many years through addictive products.

Shirley Boys’ High School does not condone vaping, as it is unsafe but also illegal. The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 came into effect in November 2020, and vaping is prohibited at all times in schools.

We want to prevent vaping from happening at school and will use our usual pastoral approach, and a number of boys have been stood down from school for vaping. However, I believe there needs to be an approach in which our community and Shirley Boys’ High School work together to address this issue. The dangers of vaping are taught in our Health classes and we will be working with boys to ensure they are not vaping.

However, if despite these messages, students bring vapes or participate in vaping at school, we will take a firm approach. 

I would ask you as parents and whanau to support this approach by having a conversation with your son.

Nga mihi

Tim Grocott