INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's plans for world-leading anti-smoking laws will be revoked, Christopher Luxon confirmed Monday after being sworn in
as PM, in a move described as a "huge win for the tobacco industry".Former airline boss Luxon took over six weeks after his conservative
National Partywon national elections, ending a six-year Labour Party reign ushered in by Jacinda Ardern.Luxon, 53, was sworn in as head of a
new coalition government by New Zealand's governor-general in a ceremony in the capital Wellington
"It is an honour and an awesome responsibility," Luxon said
The conservative said he would prioritise taming inflation and bringing down interest rates, and also confirmed he would scrap a so-called
"generational smoking ban" adopted last year that stops sales of tobacco to anyone born after 2008
Luxon said the tax revenue from ongoing cigarette sales would generate welcome income for the government, but also voiced concern that the
ban would create a flourishing - and untaxed - black market
The move was criticised by anti-smoking groups as a step back for the country
"This is a major loss for public health, and a huge win for the tobacco industry, whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi
lives," the Health Coalition Aotearoa - the Maori name for New Zealand -said
The anti-smoking legislation was designed to reduce the number of people using tobacco products
While the number of adults smoking in New Zealand is relatively low at just 8%, the previous government had envisioned a future where the
country was completely smoke-free
