Media Release

5 September 2007

For immediate release

ASH NZ, Smokefree Coalition and Te Reo Marama

Phase out cigarette sales in 10 years

Aotearoa/New Zealand campaign groups are declaring the end game for cigarettes with plans to phase out their sale within ten years. This is the first step in creating a tobacco free Aotearoa/New Zealand.

At the Oceania Tobacco Control Conference being held in Auckland, campaign groups led by ASH NZ, the Smokefree Coalition and Te Reo Marama are announcing the 10 year countdown to end smoking in New Zealand.

Public health policies that are proposed include:

• The complete removal of tobacco retail displays
• Plain packaging of cigarettes
• The staged removal of cigarettes from sale
• Tobacco tax increases which will double the cost of smoking over the next ten years, with the revenue being used to support smokers who want to quit
• Increased support for smokers who want to quit, particularly improved cessation services
• More alternative and safer forms of nicotine to cigarettes
• Culturally appropriate action toward tupeka kore (tobacco free).

Ben Youdan, Director of ASH NZ says, ``Smoking continues to kill 5,000 people a year in New Zealand, and there is no sign of this abating. After years of slow progress it’s time for a more radical approach to dealing to this killer. Health organisations have committed to a ten year countdown towards getting rid of smoked tobacco, and we are calling on politicians to sign up to ending this tragic epidemic.’’

Mark Peck, Director of the Smokefree Coalition says, “New Zealand has banned tobacco advertising, declared indoor places smokefree, and committed tens of millions of dollars towards helping smokers quit. The stage is set for the final curtain. This is about developing a timed phase-out of smoked tobacco in a way that is open and transparent, and supports the two-thirds of New Zealand smokers who want to quit.”

Shane Bradbrook, Director of Te Reo Marama, (the Maori smokefree coalition) says, ``We are putting the tobacco industry on notice. Maori had no history of tobacco use, and we are determined to drive this colonial scourge from Marae.’’

ENDS

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