
The latest outbreak from the Ministry of Health is disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising, according to Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA), in response to the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ).
She made the comment after ARFNZ claimed that the Ministry of Health had not achieved a proper balance with New Zealand's e-cigarette regulations.
ARFNZ's exaggerations and unfounded claims about e-cigarettes persist, but in reality, New Zealand has successfully implemented a harm reduction strategy for tobacco, leading to a smoke-free New Zealand by 2025. According to Ms. Loucas, ARFNZ should focus their attacks on combustible cigarettes instead.
CAPHRA was shocked to learn from the latest official statistics that ARFNZ is continuing on the path of new prohibitionism. Earlier this month, it was revealed that New Zealand's smoking rate has dropped from 9.4% of adults smoking daily a year ago to a historic low of 8%.
The Smoke-Free Environment and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment is currently under parliamentary review. Its aim is to restrict the attractiveness and accessibility of cigarettes.
Ms. Lucas stated that ARFNZ should only be focusing on the Smoke-free Amendment Bill. Instead, they seem determined to continuously undermine and criticize the Ministry of Health's position on e-cigarettes. The issue here is cigarettes, not safer nicotine alternatives that save the lives of thousands of New Zealand smokers every year.
According to CAPHRA, New Zealand's smoke-free and THR policies are being studied and replicated by many other countries. Recently, a parliamentary delegation from Malaysia visited New Zealand to learn how smoking rates were halved in the past decade. New Zealand's regulatory framework is also crucial for recent regulations in the Philippines, and even Thailand is considering creating its own regulations based on New Zealand's model.
We urge the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Ayesha Verrall, to continue down the path of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR), which has been successful in helping adult New Zealand smokers switch to e-cigarettes - a highly effective and harm-reducing smoking cessation tool. It is not the time to be distracted by minor issues.
We also urge ARFNZ to follow science and facts. Let's focus on the real issue - combustible tobacco," said Nancy Loucas.
2FIRSTS will continue to provide ongoing coverage of this topic, with future updates available on the 2FIRSTS app. Scan the QR code below to download the app.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.










