The burden of tobacco tax on Maori
investigated in the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union's report Ka
Tukuna Atu, Ka Tukuna Mai has been backed up by the NZIER.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan
Williams says, “In our report, Ka Tukuna Atu, Ka Tukuna
Mai, we found that Māori are being forced to pay $519
million annually in tobacco excise – $120 million more
than the amounts spent on Maori development and Treaty
settlements combined."
"NZIER has now confirmed that once
GST is taken into account, Maori pay $723 million in tobacco
excise. The Government is simply giving with one hand and
taking with the other, and on a net basis tobacco excise is
disproportionately impoverishing Māori.”
“The
solution is to make it much easier for current smokers to
start vaping and access other alternative products. The
Government should also acknowledge the social costs of
tobacco excise and stop any plans for future
hikes.”
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