Two thirds of kiwis want a smokefree NZ

Two thirds of kiwis want a smokefree New Zealand by 2020

Smokefree Coalition media release, 18 May 2010

The Smokefree Coalition will present research to the Maori Affairs Select Committee in Wellington tomorrow showing that 64 percent of New Zealanders completely support an end to tobacco sales by 2020. 

The new findings from UMR back up the Coalition’s proposal for a comprehensive set of policies to end the commercial sale of tobacco by 2020.

Coalition Director Dr Prudence Stone and Chairperson Professor Robert Beaglehole will outline to the Select Committee a Vision for a tobacco free New Zealand and the steps required to reach this within a decade.

“The recent tax increases on tobacco products are an important first step in achieving this Vision. The next steps include further tax increases, banning retail displays, switching to plain packaging and making youth environments smokefree.

“We also need to restrict the supply of tobacco products and several options for achieving that merit investigation,” Professor Beaglehole said.

“If public support is what our leaders need in order to act, then these survey results show they have it. The public shares our Vision to free New Zealand from tobacco’s deadly grip within a generation.”

Dr Stone said the Vision is about reducing demand, not banning smoking.

“The last thing the Coalition wants is the criminalisation of smokers. It’s all about creating an environment that protects vulnerable young people and supports smokers to quit successfully.”
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