Smoke free Aotearoa 2025

I have recently received a number of letters from convenience store owners in my electorate who are concerned about the effects the government’s Smoke free 2025 plan will have on their businesses.

Smoking in New Zealand is a real problem. Every day smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke kills around 12 people. Māori and Pacific peoples, and those living in deprived areas are particularly hard hit by the health effects of smoking.

Retailers have already had to adapt to a significant reduction in tobacco sales, with smoking consumption falling by almost half in the last decade. Over that same time less harmful products have emerged including vapes, which can support people looking to quit smoking.

Vaping is a safer alternative to smoking and can play a useful role supporting people to quit. The Smoke free Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 made significant changes to how vaping products are regulated.

However, the proposed legislative changes aim to achieve more balance in this area by making vaping products available for smokers wishing to reduce harm to their health while minimising uptake by non-smoking young people.

Many people are concerned about the removal of filters from cigarettes. I’m advised that filters do not making cigarettes any healthier. In fact, they just make cigarettes more palatable and easier to smoke which may increase health risks.

The government is aware that the Smoke free 2025 goal may contribute to an increasing trade of illicit tobacco. There is already a lot of effort going into preventing the illegal sale of black market cigarettes. Measures to achieve better control of illicit tobacco will be looked at closely.

I understand that the proposal to reduce the number of tobacco retailers will be challenging for some businesses, especially after the difficulties caused by COVID-19. However, we do need to make it easier for people to quit smoking and stay smoke free. I’m hopeful that we can all work together to be part of the solution for reducing tobacco harm in our communities.

Submissions on this plan closed at the end of May and the government are currently reviewing the feedback. No decisions have been made, but I can assure you that all views will be considered. And of course, I am always happy to meet with the business owners in my electorate to discuss this issue as we work towards our goal of making New Zealand being Smoke free by 2025. -Deborah Russell, Labour List MP based in New Lynn, Auckland.