Smokefree targets for Maori and Pasifika are looking unlikely to reach a key 2025 milestone

The Ministry of Health's annual report highlights persistently high smoking rates among Maori and Pasifika.

Mid-term targets for this year included daily smoking for Maori falling to 19 percent and for Pasifika to 11 percent.

The goal is unlikely to be met, given smoking rates last year were 32.5 percent for Maori, and nearly 22 percent for Pasifika.