Good News for New Zealand's Vaping Market: Party Leader Proposes Subsidies

Marama Fox, co-leader of New Zealand’s Māori Party, has proposed using more tax revenue to support smoking cessation efforts in New Zealand, especially by subsidizing vaping products, in order to help achieve the government’s “Smokefree 2025” goal. Prime Minister Bill English said he is open to the idea.

Fox said the Māori Party hopes subsidies can be introduced for alternative products to replace cigarettes, so as to reach the government’s “Smokefree 2025” target. While discussing anti-smoking measures, Fox said, “What we would also like to do is subsidize vaping.” The party hopes to see New Zealanders switch from combustible cigarettes to less harmful products, “at least products that won’t cause cancer and other smoking-related diseases.”

The Māori Party has previously proposed other smoking cessation measures, including plain packaging and higher prices for tobacco products. Fox has also advocated requiring retailers to obtain a license before they can sell cigarettes.

“What we want to do is reduce the harm to our people and to the country,” she said. “Every year, 300 to 500 people die from smoking-related causes, and we need to address the impact of smoking-related disease and the harm it causes our people.”