Aotearoa’s Smokefree Setback Offers A Warning For Countries Advancing Tobacco Control

Aotearoa New Zealand’s sudden repeal of world-leading smokefree laws last year shows how quickly progress can be undone when political decisions ignore evidence, public opinion, and expert advice, according to a new Public Health Communication Centre Briefing.

In the Briefing, researchers from the University of Otago analyse arguments made by Government and Opposition MPs during the rushed February 2024 repeal of smokefree “endgame” laws. These laws would have reduced nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, drastically cut the number of tobacco retailers, and created a smokefree generation by ending cigarette sales to people born after 2009.

Despite strong public support and compelling evidence showing the laws would reduce smoking and save lives, the Coalition Government used urgency to repeal them, cutting out public consultation.

“This repeal went against the best available evidence, against the advice of the Ministry of Health, and against what most New Zealanders want, says Prof Janet Hoek, co-director of ASPIRE Aotearoa. “It’s a textbook example of how tobacco industry-style arguments can derail bold public health action.”

The analysis published today in the BMJ journal Tobacco Control found that:

• Government MPs claimed Aotearoa was “on track” to reach Smokefree 2025 goals, despite data showing Māori smoking rates remain much higher than those of non-Māori.
• Many Government arguments lacked evidence and closely mirrored the tobacco industry’s playbook, such as overstating fears about illegal trade and shifting blame to individuals instead of holding tobacco companies accountable.
• Opposition MPs strongly opposed the repeal, raising concerns about the lack of consultation, breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the likely impact on health inequities.

Prof Hoek says their analysis offers a cautionary tale for other countries considering smokefree measures.

“Understanding how these arguments played out and how misinformation went unchallenged can help other countries protect their policies from similar attacks.”

The Briefing calls for steps to safeguard public health policymaking from tobacco industry influence. These include excluding tobacco companies from consultation on public health policy, introducing strong lobbying rules and a public register of industry contact, and ensuring full transparency in all interactions between politicians and the tobacco industry or its allies.

About The Public Health Communication Centre

The Public Health Communication Centre (PHCC) is an independently funded organisation dedicated to increasing the reach and impact of public health research in Aotearoa New Zealand. We work with researchers, journalists, and policymakers to ensure evidence is clearly communicated and accessible. We regularly publish public health expert commentary and analysis from across Aotearoa in The Briefing.

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