Health Official Quits In Response to Conservative Government Overturning NZ Smoking Ban

A woman is seen smoking a cigarette in central London on June 9, 2022. Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

A prominent advisory voice for the health of New Zealanders has resigned from several government roles after saying he has “no confidence” in the country’s new centre-right government’s policies which is moving to overturn a smoking ban on younger generations.

In December 2022, the country passed laws aimed at reducing smoking rates, including restricting the nicotine content in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, reducing the number of retailers selling cigarettes by 90 percent, and banning cigarette purchases for those born after 2008.

Sir Collin Tukuitonga has resigned as the chairperson of Te Whatu Ora Pacific Senate which provides strategic Pacific people advice to New Zealand’s National Health Service.

Mr. Tukuitonga was born in Niue and qualified as a doctor in New Zealand before becoming an advocate and advisor to the government on the unique health requirements of Pasifika and Maori people.

According to the National Health Service, the Pacific Senate was set up to “deliver more equitable health outcomes for Pacific peoples.”

His resignation, came a week after the new National Party-led coalition assumed power in Wellington.

The government announced changes to smoke-free laws, repealing amendments to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 and regulations before March 2024.

Tobacco Tax Proposed to Offset Property Tax Losses

A government revenue gap, created by the cancellation of the National Party’s plan to tax foreign property buyers in the New Zealand market, is expected to be funded by a tax on tobacco.

New Zealand’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis told the Newshub program, “We have to remember that the changes to the smoke-free legislation had a significant impact on the government books, with about a billion dollars there.”

Under the new government’s changes, the Maori-specific Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora, created in 2022, will be abolished.

The National Party, in pre-election discussions, said they aimed to incorporate a “strong Māori health directorate inside the Ministry of Health.”

In New Zealand, statistics suggest Maori are disproportionately represented in smoking statistics and health issues associated with nicotine consumption.

However, Sir Tukuitonga said that the move to abolish the Maori-specific agency was “premature and ill-advised” and that “Maori deserve better.”

Former French President Francois Hollande (R) shakes hands with then-general director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Colin Tukuitonga (L) during a meeting in Noumea, New Caledonia on Nov. 17, 2014. Fred Payet/AFP via Getty Images

“The government needs to do more with and for Māori. They have some of the worst health outcomes in the country as do our [Pacific] people,” Mr. Tukuitonga told RNZ Pacific.

“They are not going to treat Pacific people well and I want to be free to speak up and speak out.”

In a statement released on Dec. 12, the ACT Party, who are in coalition with the new government, intimated that the new government only wanted to work with like-minded advisors, saying they need to “get with the programme or get out.”

“ACT welcomes the resignation of any public officials who can’t bring themselves to implement the programme outlined by the elected government,” Health and Public Service spokesperson Todd Stephenson wrote.

“If someone believes they can’t do that because of their personal political—including the belief that some ethnic groups should be treated differently by the government simply because of their race—they should resign.

“It’s in no one’s interest to have top public advisors glumly going through the motions in high-paid positions when potential champions for service delivery would jump at the chance to fill those roles.”