June 2015:In 2013 Rotorua was reported as being among the country's worst asthma hospitalisation rates.  Smoking, obesity, not taking inhalers properly, damp cold housing and social issues were reported as the biggest contributors to asthma and other respiratory problems.Overall, children are more commonly affected by asthma. Māori and Pacific children have higher, more severe rates of symptoms and are twice as likely to require hospitalisation. With that in mind, Korowai Aroha wanted to provide some helpful tips to protect you this winter: