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Recruitment is now closed

If you wish to quit smoking, please contact Tipu Ora (Rotorua) on 0800-348-2400 or Hapainga (Eastern BOP)

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Nāu te kākahu i whatu. He tāniko tāku.
Kia ora rā, tēnei te tono ki a koe.
Welcome to the RAUORA study.

Many smokers regret having started smoking and want to quit, but giving up smoking can be hard. That’s why we’re undertaking the RAUORA quit smoking study– we want to help.

Our study involves comparing two similar stop smoking medicines - Tabex and Champix

  • Tabex: Tabex contains cytisine, which is from a plant called the Golden Rain. Interestingly cytisine is also found in several New Zealand plants, including the Kōwhai. Tabex has been used for more than 40 years in Eastern Europe to help people quit smoking, but is not yet available in New Zealand.
  • Champix: Currently the best treatment available in New Zealand to help you quit smoking is ‘Champix’ (which is also called varenicline). Varenicline is not obtained from a plant, but has been developed from cytisine.

Why are we undertaking this study?
Tabex and Champix help people quit smoking in the same way – they help reduce the feeling of reward you get from smoking and make the feelings of withdrawal less severe. What we don’t know about the two medicines is whether one is better than the other, or whether they are equally good at helping people stop smoking. That’s why we’re undertaking RAUORA.

Why join RAUORA?

  • Its free – all medicines are supplied at no cost.
  • Our research team are there to support you on your journey to becoming smokefree. They don’t judge you, they support you.
  • Want to chat in Te Reo Māori –we can do that!
  • We want to improve not only your health, but the health of your whānau.

Who can take part in the study?
If you smoke and want to quit you can join our study. Both Māori and non-Māori (as whānau of Māori) can take part. You also need to live in the Lakes District Health Board region (eg. Taupo, Turangi, Rotorua and everywhere in between), Eastern Bay of Plenty (eg. Edgecombe, Kawerau, Whakatane, Kawerau, Opotiki and everywhere in between), or around Tokoroa. Find out if you are eligible

Who is running the study?
The study is being run by the University of Auckland, Lakes District Health Board and Brunel University London. The study is funded by a three year research grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand.