Indigenous Health Leader Quits Over New Zealand’s Smoking Ban Rollback

Published on December 13, 2023

New Zealand’s new government led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (centre) has repealed changes to smoke-free laws (Phil Walter/Getty Images) A prominent advisory voice for the health of New Zealanders has resigned from several government roles after saying that he has “no confidence” in the country’s new centre-right government’s policies which seek to cancel smoke-free laws. In December 2022, the country passed laws aimed at reducing smoking rates, including restricting the nicotine content in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, reducing the number of retailers selling cigarettes by 90 percent, and banning cigarette purchases for those born after 2008. Sir Collin Tukuitonga has resigned as the chairperson of Te Whatu Ora Pacific Senate which provides strategic Pacific people-strategic advice to New Zealand’s National Health Service....

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