New Zealand's new Coalition Government intends to scrap legislation which would, over the coming decade, dramatically further reduce smoking in New Zealand.  This will lead to 1000s more New Zealanders dying from tobacco-related illness. Health professionals in New Zealand and overseas have expressed dismay at this backwards step. 

This is cynical and immoral politics. The Government has said it needs to use revenues collected from smokers to fund its proposed tax cuts and is concerned legislation will make a lot of convenience stores, which rely on tobacco sales, unviable. But this approach is putting profits before people.

The Government seems to be relying on people continuing to smoke to generate revenue for the government. This will slow down smoking reduction and 1000s more New Zealanders will die of smoking-related disease. Maaori and Pacific peoples are more likely to smoke. Proposed smoking law changes will mean even more of our vulnerable population will become sick and die from tobacco. 

Sign this petition to the Government asking them to change their mind and leave New Zealand's world-leading smoke-free legislation in place and find other ways to fund their activities. Tell the Government that people leading healthy and long lives is way more important than tax cuts.