New Zealand's newly-appointed Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, announced on Monday (November 27) the scrapping of the world-leading anti-smoking laws that were set to be implemented. The move, coming just six weeks after Luxon's conservative National Party secured victory in the national elections, has been met with both criticism and concern.

Luxon, a former airline executive, was sworn in as the head of the new coalition government in a ceremony held in the capital, Wellington. In his inaugural address, Luxon expressed his commitment to addressing economic challenges, prioritising the management of inflation and the reduction of interest rates.

However, he also confirmed the repeal of the "generational smoking ban" introduced last year, prohibiting the sale of tobacco to individuals born after 2008.

The decision to abandon the ground-breaking legislation, which had positioned New Zealand at the forefront of global efforts to combat smoking, has sparked controversy. Luxon defended his choice, emphasising the potential tax revenue from ongoing cigarette sales as a crucial source of income for the government. Additionally, he voiced concern about the emergence of a thriving black market for tobacco, driven by the ban.

Anti-smoking groups swiftly condemned the move, labelling it a significant setback for public health. The Health Coalition Aotearoa, representing a Maori perspective on the matter, decried the decision as "a major loss for public health" and accused Luxon's government of prioritising tobacco industry profits over the well-being of New Zealanders. The legislation, enacted by the previous Labour Party government under Jacinda Ardern, aimed to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in the country.

While the smoking rate among adults in New Zealand is relatively low at 8%, the now-revoked legislation had ambitious goals of achieving a completely smoke-free future for the nation.

Critics argue that abandoning these measures not only undermines public health efforts but also contributes to a potential resurgence in smoking-related illnesses.

(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)