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Increased NZ tobacco exports criticised

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Increased NZ tobacco exports criticised

3News NZ

The NZ plant replaces capacity at British American Tobacco's Sydney factory

The NZ plant replaces capacity at British American Tobacco's Sydney factory

The Cancer Council of Australia has slammed a $45 million factory upgrade by New Zealand's largest tobacco manufacturer which is set to quadruple its exports to Australia.

Imperial Tobacco expanded its factory at Petone, north of Wellington, after winning a worldwide tender to supply the Australian market.

After an 18-month upgrade, hi-tech equipment has been installed including a machine which can produce up to 8000 cigarettes a minute.

More than three billion cigarettes and 700 tonnes of roll-your-own tobacco are to be manufactured at the plant, which opened on Monday.

Cancer Council CEO Ian Olver said a capacity to manufacture more cigarettes would increase the chances of more smokers dying of cancer.

"Any short-term employment or economic gain for New Zealand should be balanced against the harm of death and diseases like cancer which could be prevented by reducing the smoking rates," Professor Olver said in a statement.

The expanded New Zealand plant replaces capacity at British American Tobacco's Sydney factory.

NZN

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Comments

18/08/2012 10:55:16 p.m.

steven wrote:

and under section 5 of the mental health act, i am not allowed to attempt to take my own life, gee there are 7+ billion of us ruining this planet.

9/08/2012 9:13:58 a.m.

Thomas wrote:

I know it's probably already been said but this is a ridiculous exercise in contradiction. Ads strewn everywhere in NZ about how lethal smoking is and how society no longer approves yadda yadda. Then a tobacco plant gets supercharged? Doesn't anyone else find this completely insane??? I'm an ex-smoker and I don't miss it at all. However, while I did smoke it was my choice and I think it's unfair to create stigma around something that is legal to do. If our government/society wants a smoke free NZ then stop being pussies and either make it illegal and close these factories or go away and stop getting sneaky revenue from "taxes to cover health care costs".

7/08/2012 7:34:29 p.m.

Shaun wrote:

@ Jan. The most sensible part of your post is "try and get people to stop or never take it up". The rest is questionable: Legitimising the existence of tobacco manufacturers on the grounds they provide employment overlooks the reason for the 'merchants of death' title: 50% of their customers will die as a result of consumption, and the remainder hardly get away scot-free either. 'Still wanted' translates to addicted. The effects over time render given health functions unemployed, with flow-on effects for how well the economy overall performs (including effects on non-smokers). You're really endorsing the best way for NZ to catch up with Australia is to undermine the productivity of their workforce! You state 'natural attrition', yet this industry contribute to recruiting new smokers, and expansion of this factory is an example of that. The effects of their business demand greater attention.

7/08/2012 3:37:28 p.m.

jan wrote:

If people didn't smoke (anywhere in the world) then this factory would not exist. People do and the factory is providing a product which is still wanted by the buyers. Guaranteed if NZ stops making the cigerettes, China will step in and provide them, at least this way some people will have a job, isn't this what the country is bleating on about all the time?. If an unemployed person refused to work at the factory for the reason of "they are merchants of doom and their products are killing people" they would get the dole cut for not going to a legitimate job. Just leave this factory alone, if all people quit then they will close,natural attrition, so try and get people to stop or never take it up.

7/08/2012 3:29:27 p.m.

Shaun wrote:

@ 'Fedup': 1. The article refers to criticism of increased tobacco exports to Australia, not smokers. 2. It's possible to consume alcohol without harm, and excessive drinking is in the spotlight.

7/08/2012 11:38:02 a.m.

Fedup wrote:

Stop picking on smokers. Why don't you people have the guts to take on 90 percent of NZ and make NZ alcohol free.

7/08/2012 10:00:25 a.m.

Shaun wrote:

@ Alison. (Professor) Ian Olver stated: "a capacity to manufacture more cigarettes would increase the chances of more smokers dying of cancer... Any short-term employment or economic gain for New Zealand should be balanced against the harm of death and diseases like cancer which could be prevented by reducing the smoking rates". Your stance on employment opportunities fails to account for the effects that undermine important health factors of production. If there is any value to be preserved, it is not going to happen by the devaluing and cheapening effects of tobacco on human health. Ian Olver is right.

7/08/2012 9:11:52 a.m.

alison wrote:

The nz plant replaces capacity at a similar plant in Oz. Obviously keys plans to have cheap labour in NZ are working. Whilst Im glad to see employment opportunities in NZ Ian Olver seems to have it wrong as no where in this article can I see that any more tobacco products are going to be made, just shifted from Oz production to NZ and I find it amusing that it is allowed by current govt in light of the impending smoke free NZ. No you are not allowed to smoke as it kills but if you want a job you can make them to sell offshore. Glad this govt knows what theyre doing cos no one else does.

7/08/2012 9:10:31 a.m.

Alan wrote:

Shame on you