Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Growing black market tobacco problem

WIN Party Media Release 08.12.2005

Growing black market tobacco problem

Black market New Zealand grown and processed tobacco is becoming more readily available for those who know where to source it.

A WIN Party investigation into the New Zealand black market industry recently sourced a kilogram of locally grown and processed tobacco on sale in Auckland for $150, which in price equates to around a quarter of the regular retail price of commercially available, legal tobacco.

Comparison of the black market tobacco with several brands of legal tobacco revealed an insignificant difference in quality. The black market tobacco moisture content was slightly higher but there was negligible difference in fineness of cut, and taste and smell when smoked.

"New Zealand's tobacco tax rate is one of the highest in the world and government justifies its high taxing of tobacco as a means of deterring people from taking up smoking and forcing those who smoke to quit", says WIN Party spokesperson Dave Clarke.

"When government greed pushes the price of a commodity outside of the reach of the average wage earner, people look for cheaper alternatives, and when there's a demand for cheaper alternatives, entrepreneurs who can see an easy way of making a quick dollar, will find a means of supplying".

"The growth of the black market tobacco industry in this country is definitely on the increase and it's certainly having an effect upon retail tobacco sales".

"The Health Ministry and anti-smoking lobby claim smoker numbers and rates of smoking are on the decline but recent Statistics NZ and AC Nielsen figures reveal otherwise.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"Smoker numbers have remained static over the past two years and retail tobacco sales and government revenue take have increased".

"High tobacco tax is creating 'crime', as more and more people become involved in the lucrative black market trade and we are going to need more and more law enforcement resources committed to fighting what in reality is a government created problem".

"If government wants to eliminate smoking, then they must either ban tobacco, or implement positive education campaigns that create an environment that induces people to want to quit".

"Human nature dictates that high taxation, smoking bans and scaremongering will never deter people from taking up smoking or persuade smokers to quit. People will decide that for themselves and the majority will not be influenced by what government and anti-smoking zealots determine they should do".

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.