By Brook Sabin
There have been tense scenes at a select committee hearing into smoking amongst Maori this morning – with politicians accused of milking the tobacco industry for taxes.
The select committee is investigating the effects of smoking on Maori, and what new tobacco control measures could be considered to help reduce the impact it is having.
An estimated 600 Maori die every year from smoking.
Tony Kake, spokesman for Maori Health, says he encounters many of them.
“We have a saying in Counties Manukau, ‘WOF’ – Where are Our Fathers? They’re dying too young.”
Today’s hearing was told smoking doesn’t just impact those who light up.
Dr Marewa Glover, Director of the Centre of Tobacco Control, has been advocating for tighter regulation for 20 years.
She says politicians have promised, but never delivered, and fears this hearing will be the same.
“Smoking kills more than driving, suicide, alcohol combined – yet tobacco control is the poor cousin, getting just over $55 million.”
The hearing is set to make history over the next hour, with representatives from British American Tobacco – who supply ¾ of all tobacco products in New Zealand – due to front up for an hour grilling.
The select committee has received around 2000 submissions in total and still have sittings in Wellington and Christchurch to go.
The committee will report back to Parliament in the next six months.
3 News