19 February 2012

Plain packs move right call but no need for delay, says ASH

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) commends news the government is introducing legislation on plain packaging of tobacco products, but says there is no need for a delay until 2014 with plain packing already in Australian shops from last December.

“Plain packaging will stop the tobacco industry communicating with potential and current customers. The tobacco industry won’t be able to market their products and future generations will benefit from this,” said ASH director Ben Youdan.

New Zealand is set to become the second country to introduce plain packaging for tobacco after Australia already introduced the measure.

“This is another milestone in the journey to New Zealand being smokefree by 2025. This is not far away, so the need to avoid delay is crucial. The lives of New Zealanders are being put above the interests of the tobacco giants.”

“With plain packs tobacco will now appear more like a highly lethal drug, rather than a glamorous product the tobacco industry has for years portrayed through their marketing,” said Mr Youdan.

For further information please visit www.ash.org.nz

ENDS

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>