Smoking inquiry launched, Harawira wants total ban

I don't mind the tax on tobacco being raised for Hones' people. He's made it abundantly clear in the past that I'm excluded from that honour because of my skin colour/genetic. I do resent having to subsidise their enforced regime, however. If I choose to give up, that's one thing. I might choose not be forced to, though.

@Craig, would you like some sauce with that giant chip on your shoulder?

what the seam to forget is if this goese ahead the only thing wil hapene is gangs will tack control then you whont know whats in it secondly i find this inqury one sidid the tobaco comainpies only got 10 min where they have had days and days of othere persons on the effectc of somkeing if they put prices up it will only hirt the poor as they will still smoke they just wont have food they are all so tacking away personal choices of which lots of kiwis forght and die for freedom of choices this is slowly been tacken away from us not just on this issue and we let it hapen

Boyd you can talk yourself round and round in circles for all i care but statics don't lie. Best of luck with your endeavors.

Awesome Craig. You managed to turn this conversation into your own personal rant about the state of Maori affairs.
Have I at anytime attacked non-Maori success in this conversation? Have I attempted to pull it down? Check yourself my friend. We all have warts - special media attention is given to Maori warts and ravenously fed upon by people so ready to believe.
I'm happy you seem content to brand the entire Maori race with a chip on our shoulders my friend - it shows your true colours.
The facts of this matter are, Maori are not doing well in terms of tobacco harm and smoking rates.
Maori are trying to do something about it which will be beneficial to Maori and non-Maori alike.
YOU are branding us as separatists, chip on our shoulders and criminals.
How great do you feel Craig.
I am not turning a blind eye to challenges we have as a people, but YOU sitting there with your privileged chip on your shoulder would do well to remember I have not posted on here ugly but true statistics of non-Maori and in particular Pakeha because the direction you want to take this dialogue is pointless.
As I said before, grow up - we are trying to!

No Boyd i read the whole story and cant believe you cant see the obvious one sided view (then most right wing pro Maori wouldn't). It amazes me how much Maori seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder and that impression every one owes them or its someone else fault for their actions. in this case here no one forced them to plug a smoke in their mouths and light up, they chose to do it on their own. Good on someone for taking the initiative to become another spokesperson for anti smoking in new zealand, but the reality is that its not just Maori that smoking is affecting yet there is no mention of this in this story so stop blowing smoke out your bum. As for my so called perceptions or myths you see on TV.. The camera never lies and what these clowns manage to get up to ... you need to make a reality check as it aint myths that they are out getting arrested by new zealand police for crimes and that i and many new Zealanders including persons of Maori ethnicity see out on the streets of new zealand or in front of court houses every week doesn't promote the race very well.

...another observation, isn't it funny how this discussion should actually be a positive one about Maori taking the initiative to improve Maori health and the health of all NZer's with no mention of any bad statistics for non-Maori and Pakeha, yet how quickly people feel obliged to point out any anti-Maori sentiment they can? Craig, Eddie and R et al. Thanks for an insight into your low tolerance for positive Maori action.

is that as far as your read Craig? The first line?
The benefits are not just for Maori.
I don't watch police 10/7 it just perpetuates your myths.
Have you watched Maori TV which celebrates Maori achievements? Grow up Craig, stop blaming TV for your racist perceptions.

@ boyd..perhaps you should read the first paragraph of this story once more as it doesn't say kiwi's or new zealanders it says effects on Maori.Its being driven by Hone because he want's the publicity vote. He doesn't care about peoples health, he just like every other politician just wants another term in office. I am not being racist but when was the last time you watched police 10/7 and didn't see a Maori or Polynesian involved in either a petrol station or dairy robbery? they make the bad name for themselves not us, they choose that lifestyle we don't choose it for them. i do hope that people give up smoking how ever they should vote with their wallets and spend their money on either the patches/gum or on their families, soon enough the tobacco companies will feel the pinch.

Ireland is currently running into trouble with the rest of Europe over minimum price laws it instated. it compromises international trade and Ireland's getting sorted. Minimum pricing is suggested by BAT because it has loopholes that can trip up a government, but that the global industry can run rings through.
don't trust any of the suggestions made by the guys that manufacture the products.