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

 

No Need To Change Decision Over Displays

Press Release from Stay Displays Coalition

No Need To Change Decision Over Displays, Say Retailers

Family-owned community retailers around New Zealand are concerned over recent comments that the Maori Party is pushing the Government to reverse its decision on retail displays of tobacco products.

The Stay Displays Coalition of independent retailers fought proposals that sought a country-wide ban because of the lack of evidence that displays encouraged people to take up smoking. More than 200 retailers signed up to the Stay Displays website and more than 7000 individuals signed a petition against a ban.

Stay Displays representative Richard Green from Palmerston North said the National Government declined in March to impose a ban because there was no evidence to support the claims made by the anti-tobacco lobbyists.

“The Ministry of Health, taxpayer funded anti-tobacco lobbyists don’t accept the decision made by the Government. There is no evidence – overwhelming or otherwise – that displays of tobacco actually cause people to smoke. This is a retailing issue, not an issue of lobbyists versus tobacco companies,” Mr Green said. “We retailers hῥlp make up the economic backbone of this country, not the anti-smoΎing groups whose snouts are in the troughs of the very taxes we payᾠthe State

Only one or two countries have gone as far as banning displays. Currently, England and Scotland are considering proposals for a ban, and we are urging them to decline it. A ban affects only retailers, who would be required to spend thousands of dollars re-configuring their shops and would have faced a raft of other issues as a result, Mr Green said today.

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.

Last year, economic research from the Association of Convenience Stores (NZACS) showed banning tobacco displays would cost retailers collectively more than $45 million to implement.

“The National Government took a commonsense approach and ended any speculation of a display ban. Mum and Dad family retailers around the country breathed an economic sigh of relief. To revisit this decision would hurt retailers,” he said.

“No-one in New Zealand wants a return to the nanny state we witnessed under the previous Labour-led Government. Retailers want to be able to confidently sell their products openly and not be subject to unnecessary restrictions because a few anti-tobacco fundamentalists don’t like people smoking.”

"There is no evidence that banning displays will reduce smoking. Stay Displays backed the National Government’s decision, and we continue to oppose any discussions to re-visit it,” Mr Green said.

Stay Displays was formed in 2007 by owners of dairies and convenience stores. For more information, go to www.staydisplays.co.nz

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.