Tobacco smoking and health inequities in New Zealand

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death and one of the biggest public health threats worldwide. After taking a leading role in controlling tobacco smoking for many years, New Zealand adopted a more radical tobacco control strategy in 2022. The Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan was supposed to be the most comprehensive anti-tobacco policy in history and could make New Zealand the first country in the world to achieve smoke-free status. The new policies restricting the availability of tobacco, reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes, and eventually prohibiting the sale of tobacco may lead to less smoking, less nicotine dependence and improved public health. Moreover, new legislation implementing the policy could reduce health inequities between ethnic and socioeconomic groups. However, the incoming government of New Zealand has decided to repeal the pioneering anti-smoking legislation and to reverse the recent tobacco restrictions. The new ruling coalition wants to use the move to finance tax cuts. Public health experts have criticised the plan to repeal the smoking ban, saying it could cost thousands of lives per year and will be particularly detrimental to indigenous Māori, who have significantly higher smoking rates. Socially vulnerable and poor groups of the population will pay the price of tax cuts, since they will continue to smoke and suffer the consequences of deteriorating health, serious disease and premature death. This is a major setback for public health and a great gain for the tobacco industry