Maori Select Committee told of need to phase-out tobacco sales
Public health researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington have called for a clear Government plan to totally
phase-out commercial tobacco sales in New Zealand by 2020.
This plan would reduce smoking prevalence to virtually nil, and end the 5000 deaths a year from smoking. The
recommendations are made in a detailed submission to the Maori Select Committee now inquiring into the tobacco industry
and the consequences of tobacco use for Maori.
Professor Tony Blakely told the Committee that an end to commercial tobacco sales by 2020 would result in about five
extra years of life for Maori by 2040 and an extra three years for non-Māori. This is compared to smoking rates staying
the same as they were in the 2006 census.
“Completing the phase-out of the sale of tobacco by 2020 would be the single most important and feasible action to
reduce Maori mortality and ethnic disparities in this country,” he says.
The researchers recommend reducing import quotas of tobacco; in effect a ‘sinking lid’ policy on supply over the next
decade, until all tobacco sales end. However they recommend the use of tobacco remains legal after 2020, and that
smokers be allowed to continue to grow their own tobacco for personal use only.
Professor Richard Edwards, head of the Department of Public Health, said: “This type of strategy should be accompanied
with other effective interim policies to reduce demand for tobacco.”
“These include plain packaging, larger health warnings, a ban on tobacco displays in retail stores, no duty-free
imports, and much better assistance for smokers wanting to quit.”
A stronger tobacco tax plan to complement the strategy would help ensure that any extra profits would not go to the
international tobacco industry. Professor Edwards says that the ending of similar unhealthy imports, such as leaded
petrol and asbestos, provide good precedents.
The researchers provided evidence to the Maori Select Committee showing clear public support for fundamental changes in
government tobacco policy. They say research shows that already 50% of the public back an end to tobacco sales in 10
years time, and only 30% oppose it.
In the full written submission, Associate Professor Nick Wilson pointed out that when smokers are asked a similar
question, with the rider that an effective nicotine replacement supply is available, over 44% want an end to tobacco
sales.
He said that the team had provided a report to the Committee detailing how any emerging illicit sales problem could be
prevented by present and new policies, and that the issue was a red herring pushed by the tobacco industry.
The Committee was told that there is a critical need to move from the government’s current piecemeal approach to the
tobacco epidemic, to a comprehensive ‘endgame’ policy package that has a clear timetable to phase-out sales, and that
would end smoking as a major problem for New Zealand.
ENDS