Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill

I move, That the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Health Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 2 June 2020 and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, and outside the Wellington area, despite Standing Orders 191, 193 and 194(1)(b) and (c).

Public health in New Zealand has battled against smoking and tobacco for decades. Governments of all descriptions have pursued and progressed policies that sought to reduce the harm and the deaths that come from smoking-related diseases inflicted on our communities. Today, we write the next chapter of that story, because although we’ve greatly reduced smoking rates in Aotearoa New Zealand, we still have around 5,000 people who die each year from smoking-related diseases. We know that Māori and Pacific people are disproportionately represented in this fatal cohort.

Aotearoa New Zealand has the aspirational goal of reaching smoke-free 2025. As Associate Minister of Health, I know that given where we are in smoking rates for Kiwis and the rates for Māori and Pacific people it will be a huge challenge to get to smoke-free 2025.

Public health experts for many decades have grappled—

I’m sorry to interrupt the member, but this debate is interrupted and is set down for resumption on the next sitting day.

Debate interrupted.

The House adjourned at 6 p.m.