Bay of Plenty District Health Board member and former Maori All Black Matua Parkinson is pushing for people to give up smoking ahead of Smokefree Day 2014 on May 31.

The television personality says his father's advice to stay away from smoking enabled him to travel the world playing rugby and embark on a successful media career.

Matua Parkinson wants Bay of Plenty people to give up smoking ahead of Smokefree Day 2014 on May 31.

'If you want to be anything in life don't smoke; it's as simple as that,” says Matua, who last week helped to launch a 10-week smoking cessation programme at Opotiki.

'When I was a kid that's what my father told me; that smoking was no good for me and would lead nowhere,” says the 36-year-old, who is the youngest of five children.

'He was adamant about it and because of that advice I travelled the world playing rugby and am now exploring New Zealand presenting Hunting Aotearoa.

'I know I wouldn't be where I am, doing what I am, if I was a smoker. It's about fitness for life. If you want to be a better sportsmen, hunter – or whatever your passion is – you'll only fulfil your potential if you don't smoke.”

Matua, whose playing career included selection for New Zealand Maori being the World Champion New Zealand Sevens team captain and playing for Auckland Blues, is promoting the smokefree message in his role as a board member at the BOPDHB.

Matua says he just wants to be able to give as many youngsters as possible the same advice his father gave him. 'If they do smoke, simply ask them why?”

The message isn't just about elite sport but smoking impacted on all areas of life including leisure pursuits, says Matua.

'There are a lot of youngsters passionately involved with hunting these days. It's hard work up and down those hills, running through gorse and undergrowth, and if you're not fit it could be the difference between your pig dog being badly injured or even killed if you arrive too late.”

The father-of-three, who was born in Te Kaha and now lives in Tauranga with wife Cheri, called on parents to lead by example – just as his father Reuben had – and show their children the right way to live

Matua is MC at ‘Presenting our WERO Whanau and Life's Alternatives to Smoking' on Saturday May 31 at Firman Field, Kawerau.

The event, celebrating World Smokefree Day, runs 10am-3pm.