New Zealand’s new government plans to abandon the country’s groundbreaking legislation aimed at banning smoking for future generations, a law implemented in 2022 to raise the smoking age progressively, preventing those born after January 2009 from legally purchasing cigarettes.
The move, intended to save lives and reduce healthcare costs, is now being repealed to fund tax cuts.
Public health officials fear the decision will have dire consequences, potentially costing thousands of lives and proving particularly detrimental to Māori communities.
The legislation, which influenced similar plans in the UK, included measures to make smoking less accessible and affordable, such as reducing nicotine levels and limiting the sale of tobacco products to specialized stores.
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