Is It Time to Tax Unhealthy Food? Have Your Say on March 27 with Tv3’s ‘the Vote’

New Zealand has a weight issue. The OECD and World Health Organisation say we're one of the most obese countries in the world and the cost of dealing with related illnesses is rising. Should we tax the unhealthy foods that are making us fat thus removing temptation or do we let people decide for themselves and focus on education and 'all things in moderation'?

On March 27, The Vote will ask Kiwis if it’s time to tax unhealthy food, in the premiere episode of TV3’s new national debate programme, screening at 8.30pm on Wednesday night.

In the first episode of the new current affairs format, co-hosts Duncan Garner and Guyon Espiner each lead a team to debate the topic ‘It’s time to tax unhealthy food.’ A coin toss will determine who leads the ‘For’ and ‘Against’ teams. Broadcaster and lawyer, Linda Clark is the referee, charged with keeping the debaters in line and on topic.

The opinion that matters most is that of the audience watching at home, who are encouraged to vote via text for just 20 cents and for free on twitter, facebook and at TheVote.co.nz.

Guyon Espiner says: “I feel very strongly that it's a good idea to put a tax on unhealthy foods and I'm also convinced that it's a stupid idea that will never work. The great thing for Duncan and myself is that it's decided by a coin toss so we have to argue the side that fate deals you, however the real power lies with the audience who get to decide which team wins.”

Duncan Garner adds: “This affects every household. So my team is hoping to eat Guyon and his team alive, so to speak. Make sure you vote, it's really important, you may change the Government's hands-off policy. Or you may vote in favour of unhealthy foods because it's all too nanny-state. Whose side are you on anyway?"

Joining Duncan and Guyon next week are four panellists, each with relevant expertise. The teams are:

FOR – Leader to be determined by coin toss
• Dr Robyn Toomath of Fight the Obesity Epidemic: Robyn believes the global Obesity Epidemic is a result of genetics in conjunction with today’s food environment and is committed to getting a food tax on the agenda in New Zealand.
• Geoff Simmons of the Gareth Morgan Foundation: Geoff is co-author (with Morgan) of Health Cheque: the truth we should all know about New Zealand’s public health system which makes the case that food has overtaken smoking as New Zealand’s biggest preventable killer.

AGAINST - Leader to be determined by coin toss
• Lindsay Mouat Chairman of the Food Industry Group: a passionate advocate for the food industry, Lindsay’s career includes management and marketing roles with Glaxo, Unilever Australasia and Fletcher Challenge.
• Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett: Nick represents a city with the youngest and most culturally and economically diverse population in New Zealand.

The Vote is competitive current affairs – a monthly series of entertaining and informative national debates on the big issues facing New Zealanders. The debates take place in theatres with audience participation and viewers at home are invited to take part, by having their say and voting.

The Audience at home will be able to vote for free at www.TheVote.co.nz, via Twitter @TheVoteNZ and Facebook at The Vote NZ. Viewers can also text their vote by texting ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to 3920 at a cost of 20 cents per text.

The Vote is produced by TV3’s News and Current Affairs division with funding from NZ On Air, and screens once every four weeks in the same timeslot as 3rd Degree.

- ends -

3rd Degree presents ‘The Vote’.
IT’S TIME TO TAX UNHEALTHY FOOD
Wednesday 27 March, 8.30pm on TV3.

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