The National Party-led coalition faces criticism from health providers after repealing pioneering smoke-free legislation introduced by New Zealand’s previous Labour government.
The Coalition proposed the repeal during their campaign for the 2023 general election and it has materialised as part of the 100-day plan introduced by Prime Minister Chris Luxon. The government confirmed on Feb. 27, the changes would be repealed as a matter of urgency, mitigating the opportunity for public input and objection.
The first changes to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act, introduced on Jan. 1, 2023, were due to be implemented on July 1 of this year with the first action directed towards decreasing the numbers of retailers able to sell smoked tobacco products by 90 percent.
A second innovation, slated for April 1, 2025, had aimed to reduce the amount of nicotine that is allowed in smoked tobacco products. A third amendment, to start on Jan. 1, 2027, hoped to prohibit the sale of smoked tobacco products to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009.
While supported in the main by public opinion polls and health providers, the sweeping changes proposed by the Act garnered some criticism from the New Zealand Dairy and Business Group, a collective of convenience store retailers who were concerned their businesses would become unviable if they were unable to sell cigarettes and vaping products from 2025.
Holistic Approach: Minister
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello told media that the government was committed to reducing smoking but was taking a different regulatory approach to discourage the habit and reduce the harm it caused.
She added that the previous government had taken an abstinent view of the smoking problem that was unlikely to work as planned.
“The last government was moving towards an untested regime that ignored how well quit smoking initiatives were working, and the potential downside of taking a prohibitionist approach for smokers, or for retailers and crime,” she said.
Ms. Costello added that new policies would be holistic.
“I will soon be taking a package of measures to cabinet to increase the tools available to help people quit smoking,” Costello said, adding that regulations on vaping would also be tightened to deter young people.”
The move has proved unpopular with those tasked with reducing the number of smokers and providing medical care to those disproportionately affected by the dangers of smoking.
In New Zealand, indigenous Maori make up 17.1 percent of all smokers and are 3.3 times as likely to be smokers when compared with non-Maori. Over 20 percent of all adult Maori people are smokers.
Health Coalition Aotearoa stated the repeal was “shameful.”
“The tobacco industry will be celebrating their victory in getting the government coalition parties, all of whom have significant ties with the industry, to run their agenda in keeping 284,000 smokers addicted to their products for as long as possible,” Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) co-chair Professor Boyd Swinburn said.
“Putting the profits of the tobacco industry ahead of the health of New Zealanders is grossly irresponsible.”
