Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Inquiries — I recall that when Labour was in Government we started to push the legislation banning smoking in restaurants and cafes. Do members recall that? There was a whole lot of moaning and people getting emotional about intruding on people’s rights. I challenge anybody to go into a cafe or restaurant now and light up a cigarette—and that ban was introduced not too long ago. We did that as a nation and we can do a whole lot of things with this bill. People will decry it and say it will not work but I am starting to see a lot of young Māori smoking again. If they are not busy, they do that. But the price of cigarettes—the cost and the impact on family budgets, especially those of working-class people—is not on and I am certainly encouraged that we have got to this stage. My colleagues on the select committee have done a great job.
← Inquiries — I can recall people like my wife who started smoking at 13 or 14. It was quite common amongst young Māoris, and continued for a long, long time. In the 1950s and 1960s, when every Māori who was 16 was working, they also started smoking because it was the new kick. It was freedom and epitomised being, for once, in control of something. For them, having generally been manual labourers in the country and the towns—wherever they lived—smoking became a huge addiction. It was coupled with boozing in the big bars. It was coupled with a whole lot of other issues. Certainly it is time for the country to grow up.
Inquiries — This issue is something we need to come to grips with, but I need to remind members that when we removed smoking from restaurants and cafes there was a hang of a lot of shouting and chanting that it was not on. There seems to be that now when we talk about broaching companies about advertising. We can stop it; I am sure we can stop it. It is not about nanny State; it is about common sense. We arrested drinking and driving in most places when it was quite a common habit. I commend this bill. →