New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon has expressed confidence in associate minister of health Casey Costello’s HTP tax cut plan. Photo credit: Doug Mountain, CC0.
Minister Denies Tobacco Ties Amid Criticism Over HTP Tax Cut
New Zealand’s associate minister of health, Casey Costello, firmly denied any involvement with the tobacco industry after health researchers questioned her credibility at a recent forum.
Critics have scrutinized her for reversing smokefree laws and for providing health officials with a document that claimed "nicotine is as harmful as caffeine." She also labeled Labour's smokefree generation policy as "nanny state nonsense."
The minister recently faced criticism for lowering the excise tax on heated tobacco products (HTP) by 50% effective from July 1, a move intended to make them a more attractive alternative to smoking.
Critics say her decision aligns with the requests of tobacco companies, particularly Philip Morris International, which leads the HTP market. Notably, two former senior staff members of New Zealand First are part of Philip Morris's team.
Costello, however, said, "New Zealand is winning the battle against smoking,” highlighting the progress New Zealand has made in reducing youth smoking, noting that most young people have no interest in smoking, with 88% of those under 17 having never tried it. She believes the country is already seeing the emergence of a smoke-free generation and expressed confidence that New Zealand is winning the battle against smoking.
She says the real challenge now lies with long-term smokers, particularly those aged 45-64, who have been smoking for many years. Her focus moving forward is to ensure that government actions, marketing campaigns, and support services are directed at helping this group quit.
"We want to stop the harm from smoking and achieve our Smokefree 2025 target. To do this we have to be anti-smoking, not necessarily anti-nicotine,” she added.
"For a long time, we've accepted that using a safer form of nicotine is an important tool in getting people on the pathway to stop smoking tobacco. This is from nicotine patches through to vaping,” Costello said.
She also emphasized the need for “fit-for-purpose legislation” that "We need to have a fit-for-purpose legislation and a regulatory regime that would provide the same level of control across smoked tobacco and other nicotine products. According to Costello, the goal would not end with Smokefree 2025.
"We also need to remain vigilant that New Zealand remains smokefree, that young people do not start smoking or vaping, and that those who have quit smoking or vaping do not restart,” she said.