​Lounging on deck chairs in the sun-swamped front yard of their townhouse at the Golden View Lifestyle Village, Leone and Geoff Bishop reminisce about having spent 60 or more years of their lives smoking, and how proud they are to now be smoke free with the support of the Southern Stop Smoking Service.  

The couple, originally from Waitaki Valley, moved to Cromwell to retire after a life of merino sheep farming – Leone says Geoff was the most superior wool grower in New Zealand and it wasn’t uncommon to watch him shear a sheep while walking up a hill and all with a cigarette in his mouth.

Leone started smoking at 16-years-old because her sister-in-law was a nurse and smoking. “I thought if she was smoking why couldn’t I?” Leone’s habit progressed to 25 tailor-made cigarettes per day in what would become a 63-year habit.

Geoff says he started pinching his father’s smokes in his early teens. His habit progressed to a 50gram a day, a habit he maintained for years – around 60 he estimated. “I always had a smoke hanging out my mouth.”

Both had tried to stop smoking in the past, Geoff once for three years and Leone once for three months, but they loved the habit too much and found it extremely difficult to stop for good.

Between them, they would spend $400 a fortnight on cigarettes and not even think twice, they said.

Recently, Geoff visited his GP who told him it was time to think about stopping smoking due to a rattle in his chest and referred him to the Southern Stop Smoking Service. Alison Milne visited the pair, where Leone made it clear she too wanted to stop.

The pair found it easier to stop smoking this time around especially with the support of Alison. Stopping together was also helpful, they said, adding that their last cigarette was shared together on the morning of June 2nd.

They were both surprised at how easy it was to stop, although admitted it was tough in the beginning. They each used patches, gum and lozenges.

Neither miss the habit and said they have more energy, food tastes different, and the rattle in Geoff’s chest is gone.

Having been so proud of her effort to stop smoking, Leone discussed it while getting her hair tended to by the rest home hairdresser Bev Quayle. The hairdresser was intrigued and asked how she did it, which leads us to our next inspirational story … 

I started smoking when I was 14 – it was the cool thing to do back in the 70’s.

It was sexy - there were coloured ones and pretty cigarettes and everyone was smoking. The health risks weren’t really known at that stage and I just continued smoking out of habit, but that habit soon increased and before I realised, it had become my best friend. It was my comfort.

I continued to smoke for the next 44 years – except on a Sunday. I never smoked on a Sunday.

I stopped once about 20 years ago for 18 months but getting caught out in a snow storm and staying in a house with several people drew me back into it. Then I just started where I left off and it was like having my best mate back.

I was so angry at myself for starting again. I’d let myself down and I was feeling a bit depressed about the amount of weight I had piled on when I hadn’t been smoking.

That’s actually why I was nervous to stop smoking. Putting on the weight again worried me, but it turns out It can be done and in fact I’ve even lost weight! It’s all a mind-set thing.

I’d been thinking about stopping for a while, it was becoming so expensive, but it wasn’t until one of my clients at the Golden View Lifestyle Village rest home said she was stopping and I thought ‘well if she can, I can!’ Next thing I knew Alison was arranging a meeting with me and I would visit her at Junction Health in Cromwell. On the 23rd of June I had my last cigarette.

I’d tried the patches but they gave me bad dreams so I ended up stopping without any NRT. I haven’t even had one cigarette since. I would be so angry with myself if I did!

I don’t miss smoking at all and in fact I found it quite easy to stop. Alison was a huge support and I looked forward to her visits. I’m excited about the amount of money I have saved to far ($600) because by the time my son gets married on the Gold Coast next year, I will have tons saved!

I’m so pleased to be smoke free and I’m excited about the future.

​*This client wishes to remain anonymous

The possibility of not receiving the hip surgery I so desperately need was the motivation I needed to kick my habit of over 50 years.

I started smoking when I was 16. Like most people say, smoking was normal then – my father smoked, my five siblings smoked. I’m proud to say we have all given up now!

Back then, I really thought I could drop it any time I liked. Life went on and I continued smoking because I enjoyed it. They were really cheap then too. We all had jobs so money wasn’t really an issue.

I’ve smoked my entire life. It became ingrained into my lifestyle before I’d even realised it had happened. I smoked tailor-made cigarettes for years but when they started to become more expensive I switched to roll-your-owns.

I tried to stop smoking on numerous occasions but it turned out I couldn’t stop as easy as I thought I could. Nothing ever worked – I even tried hypnosis. The longest I stopped was probably a couple of weeks.

My motivation came when I was told last year that I couldn’t get hip surgery until I stopped smoking. I’m in desperate need of a hip replacement! One of the nurses at my medical practice put me in touch with the Southern Stop Smoking Service and I was put in touch with the Otago coach, who started visiting me at home.

The coach was helpful and encouraged and motivated me. She was positive, which in turn helped me to remain positive.

As it turns out I was allergic to the patches, so instead of using NRT, I opted for vaping. I had already cut down to only about 5 cigarettes a day by that point so I found the switch quite easy. Now I’m looking forward to coming off the vape.

I have had one or two cigarettes since I stopped smoking 7 months ago, but it turns out I don’t actually like smoking now.

I am now looking forward to my hip surgery, which I have now been told will happen in the very near future.

Kara Holmes, Dunedin resident

My first cigarette tasted disgusting but I forced myself to keep going.

It was a social thing. You had to smoke if you wanted to be “one of the cool kids.” It made me feel so grown up at 15 and it wasn’t even expensive back then.

It was actually quite widely advertised. I remember once going to Australia on holiday with my family and being handed free cigarette samples in the mall!

Smoking was everywhere, so I just continued. For me, I used it as a motivational tool – I’ll just have a cigarette and then I’ll do it. I would smoke more than a 30gram per week and spend roughly $100.

I tried to stop smoking a number of times over the years but I never went more than a day or two.

When my daughter turned three she became a little mischievous and I remember she would say things like “go outside and have a smoke Mum.” The only reason she was saying that was so that she could be naughty out of view.

That was it, I thought, time to stop for good! I was lucky that whilst in hospital having my second child I was referred to the Southern Stop Smoking Service. I had heard about the service when I was pregnant but at that point I just couldn’t face not smoking.

It was actually easier to continue smoking than to think about stopping. But, once I had made my mind up that was it, and the Otago coach came to see me.

She was supportive, non-judgmental, and could relate having stopped smoking in the past herself. She helped me to formulate a plan and showed me how to use the patches properly. I found it helpful to have someone to be accountable to and, being the competitive person I am, constantly trying to get a lower number on the Co machine.

With the assistance of patches and gum, I have been smoke free now since November. I don’t miss it at all and in fact when I smell it on someone who has been smoking, it really puts me off it.

I had a persistent cough that’s now gone, so that’s a huge bonus. But the biggest bonus for me is that my children won’t remember me as a smoker! 

Kurt Scriven - Oamaru

I’d been smoking 20-30 cigarettes a day for 48 years; a habit I started in my teens and never tried to stop. Everyone smoked in those days, it was normal, and it just became ingrained in my lifestyle.

It wasn’t expensive to smoke back then. In those days’ smokes were 30c for a packet of 20 and once I started working it was easy to afford.
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I knew it wasn’t a great habit and eventually I started to notice I was feeling tired all of the time, I was coughing often and throughout the years I lost all of my teeth due to gum disease, which I was told was caused by smoking.

I hadn’t tried to stop in the past. There was the odd day I’d think about stopping but I never did. In fact, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to.

I ended up with a bit of a health scare (not smoking related) and visited the doctor. He mentioned I should probably stop smoking and I agreed, so I got on to Quitline but that didn’t work for me.

That’s when I googled stop smoking help in the Southern District and found the Southern Stop Smoking Service. After contacting them I was referred to the stop smoking coach here in Oamaru.

I met with the coach who gave me patches and lozenges and three days later I stopped smoking. That was about 20 weeks ago.

Liz has been a great help. She is non-judgmental, she listened to me and gave me ideas and showed me how to use the NRT. She has given me the confidence to kick the habit and I certainly noticed that being able to see the person made a huge difference.

I’m 63-years-old now and I feel great. My cough is gone, it cleared up quickly, and my smell and taste has changed. I enjoy making curry and I used to love it spicy but now I’ve had to cut back on the spice because it’s too hot! Smoking must have numbed my taste and smell!

I had been spending about $100 a week to smoke, but since I’ve stopped I’m able to spend my money on something that doesn’t damage my health – I bought myself a brand new Audi! I would never have bought that if I had still been smoking. It’s my reward.

My wife and I have been getting out and doing the gardens and taking the dogs to the beach for a walk daily, which we really enjoy.

I don’t miss smoking and I’ll never start again. That chapter of my life is closed, done and dusted.

Stewart Whittingham - Manapouri

When everyone told me I would never stop smoking, I set out on a mission to prove them all wrong. And I succeeded.

I had been smoking for a long time. I started when I was just 13 because a friend gave me a cigarette. It had a funny taste but I kept smoking anyway. It was normal back then, everyone smoked. People would smoke on the bus, on the train, on the plane and even in supermarkets.

I could buy a single smoke and a match for two pence from the local dairy. In England, the legal age to buy cigarettes was 16 and by the age of 16 I was smoking a packet of 20’s a day.

I was working so I could afford them. Money was never a problem. But, really, when you smoke you can always find money for cigarettes.

I don’t know why I continued the habit. I knew though that I would get a break at work if I smoked, if I didn’t smoke I wouldn’t! I actually enjoyed the habit. I enjoyed going to the pub after work and joining the crowd of people smoking.

I hadn’t realised it but it had become ingrained in my lifestyle, and I would often use it as a reward – if I just finish this I can have a cigarette.

I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve tried to stop. I started trying at 20-years-old but nothing ever worked. I would cut down, then stop, then start again. I would use patches and gum, and sometimes I would just stop cold turkey. It was like a revolving wheel. My longest attempt was 6 months but something would always lead me back to it.

I knew I needed to stop for more reason than one. I was working extra to pay for my cigarettes, I was worried for my health, and I was constantly nagged to stop by my parents.

Then in December I got a text message from my doctor advising of the Southern Stop Smoking Service, and then Debbie Swain-Rewi contacted me. It felt like the perfect timing for me.

I had a meeting with her at the Community Centre and that day I went home, smoked the rest of my pack of cigarettes and haven’t touched one since.

Debbie showed me how to use the patches properly and instead of a cigarette, that day, I had a cup of tea and a chocolate bar instead.

I continue to wake at 2am every morning, which is when I’d usually go outside for a cigarette, but I’ve changed my habits and now I’ll sit down and turn the TV on.

Everyone told me there’s no way I would do it. I would never stop smoking. Well, I proved them all wrong and so far I have saved $30 a day! The money that I’ve saved has been spent on paint for my house.

I haven’t even felt like a smoke! I enjoy having more time now, I don’t smell, I can walk further and my lung capacity is greater, and I’m saving lots of money!

I don’t miss smoking at all. I’m never going to go back now, and if I even thought about it I’d just give Debbie a call!

Liz Dickey, Balclutha
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Impressing a guy as a teenager led me to start smoking, but it’s taken me a lifetime to give it up!

I had my first cigarette at about 14-years-old. Friends and I would steal tissues from our parents and we’d roll grass and smoke it. It made us feel sick but we kept going back. At 15 or 16-years-old I had my first proper cigarette because I was trying to impress a guy I was dating. He asked if I wanted a smoke and I remember thinking, I had better if I want to impress him! I remember coughing and feeling sick and my throat was burning. That should have been my warning! But instead, I never looked back.

Back then, smoking wasn’t a bad thing and it quickly became a part of me. It was ingrained in my lifestyle. It was like breathing! 

I would never count how many cigarettes I was smoking or how many times I would empty the ashtray during the day. I didn’t really think about the money I was spending either while I was smoking, but of course I noticed the increase. When I first started they were about $.50c a packet for 20, now they’re $30! I would go through a packet a day usually, sometimes I would have a couple left over.

I gave up once for about three years. My son was shifting away and everyone in the family had a phone, but I didn’t. I was desperate to stay in touch with my son. I remember there was a sale on at the Warehouse for a phone. I had a decision to make – do I buy a phone or another pouch of tobacco? I decided the phone was more important and, after years of smoking, I quit cold turkey. I remember contacting Quitline and they referred me on to the Southern Stop Smoking Service. That was about six years ago now. (It may be a “brick” now, but I still have the phone!)

Three years later, a series of traumatic events sprung up in close succession in my life and so, as a way to deal with the stress, I started smoking again. But a year or two later I was getting sick of smoking again. The smell of dirty ashtrays and having to constantly empty them was becoming too much. I knew smoking was my life but that wasn’t what I was put on this earth for.

I remembered the support I received from Anita Clouston the first time I stopped so I decided to get back in touch. One-on-one contact is much better than a phone call and I found the Co monitor to be a real eye opener!

I used patches and they worked for me and I chew chewing gum (not nicotine gum). I have been smoke free for about two months now and I’m loving it!

I am starting to notice the extra money – bills are getting paid off faster! My teeth are still stained, and I will leave it that way for the moment because they are a constant reminder not to start smoking again! Eventually I will have them cleaned professionally – I never thought about white teeth before but I do now.

I don’t miss smoking and I’m definitely sleeping better. I will continue to do my best to stay off it. I am taking it day by day and trying not to put pressure on myself. I haven’t promised anyone anything, I am just doing it – the worst person you can break a promise to is yourself!

The pressures of starting a business led Owaka local Tarran Kristel to start smoking.

I started my business, TK Repairs Ltd, in 2015 but the second year became stressful and I started smoking in 2017.

I had only ever smoked socially in the past but now I was smoking about 30 cigarettes a day and I really enjoyed the habit, although I always found the price tough. It cost $30 a day, which was $200 a week.

I found myself taking a lot of breaks at work and not getting as much done as I used to, and I knew that I needed to stop smoking.

A pretty big wakeup call came when a friend of mine passed away from smoking-related health issues and I became worried for my own health, as well as my finances.

Luckily, I had the best support as my partner is the Southern Stop Smoking Service coach for South Otago Anita Clouston.

I knew I couldn’t quit cold turkey – I would not have been a nice person to be around! So instead I switched to an electronic cigarette and have weaned myself down to 6mg. I found the switch really easy, it only took about a week.

The last time I had a cigarette was 24 April 2017.

I don’t miss smoking. I am finding it easier to breath, I sleep better, I’m not wheezy, I can taste again and I have more money. I’m always finding other things to spend my money on though – mainly car parts.

I get more done at work and I’m enjoying not seeing the butts lying around the floor and outside the building – I was getting sick of constantly picking them up.

I intend to continue vaping in the meantime and will keep trying to convince my friends who smoke to make the switch!