New Zealand Vapers Hope to Receive Financial Subsidies

According to NewsHub, the New Zealand government does not rule out the possibility of subsidizing electronic cigarettes in the future to help people quit nicotine. The Māori Party proposed last week that electronic cigarettes should be subsidized because they "do not cause cancer and other smoking-related diseases." On Monday, Prime Minister Bill English revealed in an interview with New Zealand's morning news and talk show, The AM Show, that "this possibility is not immediately ruled out."

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English being interviewed on The AM Show

"We are currently facing hardcore smokers, and a lot of tax revenue is spent on reducing the number of smokers, but it also brings in a lot of revenue."

"We need some lateral thinking on how to address this small number of hardcore smokers, as they still pose a threat to their health. We will consider it."

Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox

Although electronic cigarettes are still on the legal edge, Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox proposed strict restrictions on regular cigarettes, including banning all products except low-tar varieties and requiring licenses similar to those needed for selling alcohol.

Since vaping is still relatively new, the long-term health impacts are unclear. Currently, nicotine electronic cigarettes can only be imported for personal use and cannot be sold. This is expected to change soon, as the government will adopt public opinions regarding last year's proposals for legalizing the sale and use of electronic cigarettes.