Young Maori girls have the highest daily smoking rates of any ethnicity, according to recent statistics.

A 2011 Action on Smoking and Health survey of Year 10 students showed 18.1 per cent of Maori students smoked every day.

Of the 5229 Maori students who completed the survey, 10.3 per cent were daily smokers, compared with 2.7 per cent of non-Maori.

Likewise, 18.1 per cent of Maori participants smoked regularly, compared to the 5.8 per cent of non-Maori who regularly smoked.

The ASH statistics show Maori girls have consistently had the highest daily smoking rates of Maori and non-Maori boys and girls since 1999.

In 2011, 11.3 per cent of Maori girls were daily smokers and were four times more likely to smoke than non-Maori girls.

Tauranga Girls' College principal Pauline Cowens believes smoking is more prevalent among Maori girls and says the issue needs to be addressed at home and not just at school.

'I would suspect that you're looking at home environment when it comes to statistics like that.

'One of the things I really admire is when you visit any marae they are no drinking and no smoking, I really approve of that.”

She says at school they have Maori councillors for their Maori students but they prefer to work with individual students rather than targeted groups.

'We work with the individual girls who are putting their health at risk.

'We always educate for it being bad for their health.”

Chairperson of the Western Bay of Plenty Smokefree Coalition Stewart Ngatai says there is still much more that needs to be done for young Maori smokers if New Zealand is going to be smoke-free.

'I think it is good to see significant declines in Maori youth regular smoking from 42.7 per cent in 1999 to 18 per cent.

'However, the declines have not been as significant as they are for non-Maori.”

Stewart says Maori youth smoking is so high because so many of their own family members smoke.

'The youth rates mirror the significant difference in smoking prevalence between adult Maori and non-Maori.

'In part smoking has been seen as a 'normal' part of their lives.

'De-normalising smoking amongst Maori is a good start.”

Stewart says improving these statistics needs to happen at all levels including whanau, government agencies, communities and local and central government.

'Addressing smoking as a cause of ill health, especially for Maori, will need a continuing multi-pronged approach, bold moves and courage to ensure that de-normalisation of smoking culture happens rapidly.”