Change in New Zealand

Goodbye smoking ban: government overturns anti-tobacco law

New Zealand's conservative government has overturned the drastic anti-tobacco laws of the previous left-wing government, to the dismay of health experts. The coalition under the leadership of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon repealed the legislative package in an expedited procedure on Thursday night.

The government, which also includes the populist NZ First party, had already announced a corresponding plan shortly after taking office last November. Among other things, it wants to use the move to finance promised tax cuts.

Groundbreaking law for a smoking ban
Under the leadership of Labor leader Jacinda Ardern, the Pacific state passed a groundbreaking law at the end of 2022 to ban smoking for people born from 2009 onwards. Tobacco could no longer be sold to them for life. This was intended to prevent young people from being tempted to start smoking in the first place.

The law also included a reduction in the nicotine content of cigarettes and a reduction in the number of tobacco sales outlets. The country should be largely smoke-free by 2025. Smoking is the most common cause of preventable death in New Zealand. The laws should come into force gradually from July this year.

Against "prohibitionist" approach
"New Zealand has seen the biggest decline in smoking rates in the world in recent years and we want to build on the practical tools and approaches that have worked so far," said Deputy Health Minister Casey Costello. She added that the government remained committed to making the country smoke-free. However, the Labour government had taken a "prohibitionist" approach that ignored how well smoking cessation initiatives worked.

Repeal "shameful"
Researchers from the ASPIRE Aotearoa Research Centre at the University of Otago described the repeal of the laws as "shameful". The scientists were supposed to help implement the Labour government's goals. Now thousands of unnecessary deaths continue to occur every year, especially among the Maori, said co-director Andrew Waa. The indigenous people of New Zealand have a higher smoking rate than the rest of the population and suffer particularly frequently from tobacco-related diseases. Waa emphasized that recent opinion polls had also shown strong public support for the laws.

It is completely irresponsible to put the profits of the tobacco industry above the health of New Zealanders.

Nichtregierungsorganisation Health Coalition Aotearoa

"The tobacco industry will be celebrating their victory because they got the government coalition parties, who all have close ties to the industry, to push through their agenda," the non-government organization Health Coalition Aotearoa said. "It is completely irresponsible to put the profits of the tobacco industry before the health of New Zealanders."