Why New Zealand do U-Turn on dia ogbonge policy to ban smoking

New Zealand new goment say dem plan to scrap di nation world-leading smoking ban to fund tax cuts.

Di legislation wey di former goment under Jacinta Arden bin bring come suppose ban di sale of cigarette to anyone wey im date of birth na afta 2008 from next year 2024.

Smoking na im be di number one reason why pipo dey die preventable death for New Zealand, and di policy suppose stop young pipo from getting dat kain habit.

Health sabi pipo don dey hala on top di sudden about turn from goment.

Prof Richard Edwards, wey be tobacco control researcher and sabi pesin on public health say, "we dey shocked and disgusted... dis na ogbonge back sliding on top world-leading and excellent health measures."

E tell BBC say, "most health groups for New Zealand dey shocked by wetin goment don do and dey call dem to change."

Dem bin pass di law last year and dem hail am internationally say na example of wia research models dey back key reforms.

The law no only suppose stop di younger generations to no smoke. But e also suppose comot tobacco products from 90% of di New Zealand retailers wey dey sell dem now and also reduce di amount of nicotine wey dey inside cigarettes.

Public health modelling don suggest say di Smokefree laws fit save up to 5,000 lives per year.

E dey believed say di New Zealand laws bin inspire di UK goment for September to announce dat kain smoking ban for young pipo.

As medical sabi pipo bin dey hail di health policy, business groups wey and corner shops don hala say e dey make dem lose money, even with goment subsidies.

New Prime Minister Chris Luxon and some oda law makers tok say dis ban fit cause black market for tobacco.

But im National Party, wey win 38% of di vote of di 14 October election bin no tok anytin say dem go touch di Smokefree laws during dia campaign.

Di announcement by di new finance minister Nicola Willis on Saturday say goment wan do about turn on di laws shock health experts as dem bin tink say e go dey safe under di national led goment.

But Ms Willis say na di partners of di party for di goment coalition, wey be di populist New Zealand First and libertarian Act, bin ginger to reverse di Smokefree laws.

Even with dia election victory, di centre-right National party don find am hard with policy negotiations to form goment with di two minor parties.

Na on Friday, six weeks afta di election dem bin manage a deal wey allow dem to swear in goment on Monday.

New Zealand first wey bin get 6% of di vote - na di only party wey bin campaign to comot di health policy.

Di two minor parties bin block one national policy to open foreign property ownership wey dem bin wan use to fund tax cuts for middle and higher income earners.

Ms Willis say na wetin make di party to look elsewhere.

She tell New Zealand tori pipo, TV3 Newshub Nation say, "we need to remember say di changes to di Smokefree laws bin affect di goment books, with like a billion dollars for dia."

Di laws still need to go through parliament wia di goment get majority.

Public health experts na among those wey dey vex by dis majority.

One national Māori health organisation, Hāpai Te Hauora call am "wrong blow to di health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders".

Smoking rates and di health issues wey e dey cause high pass among di indigenous pipo of Māori wey sabi pipo say di policy for beta pass for.

Emeritus Prof Robert Beaglehole wey be oga of di New Zealand Action for Smokefree 2025 committee tell Pacific Media Network say, "di suggestion say tax cuts go dey paid by pipo wey continue to dey smoke dey absolutely shocking."

Prof Edwards say, "di goment dey fly for di face of public opinion and obviously for di face of di majority of pipo wey dey work for dis field, health professionals, doctors, nurses".

Public health modelling wey dem do for 2022 bin show say di Smokefree policy go save New Zealand health system like NZ$1.3bn ($790m) ova di next 20 years.

New Zealand still wan reduce di national smoking rate for 5% by 2025, and di goal na to comot am pata-pata.

National data show say, more dan 80,000 adults don quit in di last year. As at now, like 8% of di pipo still dey smoke.