Background: When a problem is resistant to change innovative strategies are needed if the vision of health for all is to become a reality for most. Kaitaia, the most northern town of New Zealand, has a population of 5,000 people. The 2001 census identified 52% Maori compared to 15% for all New Zealand. Maori smoking rates vary by gender and age with 40-70% rates reported, the highest of which are for young women. Energised by the acceptance of the “whole service” approach to smokefree pregnancies in hospitals, the “whole community” approach to starting life smokefree was born.

Strategy: Imagine Kaitaia is developing. It builds on three key principles of the Bangkok Charter for health promotion in a globalised world: foster broad participation, develop the capacity for leadership and advocate for health on the basis of human rights. Appreciative Inquiry, a methodology for social change, gives structure to assessment and planning that is based on success experiences of Kataia people. Following the lead of the Imagine Chicago project, the core process is for Kaitaia health, community and family leaders to appreciate what is, imagine what can be, and create what will be. Facilitating this process, providing “Starting Smokefree” education and supporting the network of community leaders is the role of Education for Change. This presentation will report progress on the Imagine Kaitaia project.

Conclusion: This progressive project has the opportunity to create supportive environments for lasting changes to the health and wellbeing of individual children and the community as a whole.