Protest Letter Urges Closure of E-Cigarette Store in Otani

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.19.2023
Protest Letter Urges Closure of E-Cigarette Store in Otani
Residents of Otane, New Zealand, have submitted a protest against the establishment of an e-cigarette store in their town.

According to a report by nzherald, Kerry Low, a resident of Otani in New Zealand, has submitted a letter of protest to the Mayor of Whakatane, Alex Walker, opposing the establishment of an e-cigarette store in Otani. The Otani community has taken steps to prevent the sale of e-cigarette products in their town.

 

The Otani Community in the San Hu Ke Bay Area received a petition signed by 502 individuals opposing the establishment of an e-cigarette shop in the town and calling for its closure. Otani resident Kerry Low, after seeking advice, handed over the petition to the mayor, expressing concerns about the sale of e-cigarette products in town and their impact on the local youth.

 

Mayor Alex Walker stated that the local council has made decisions regarding the sale and supply of alcohol after consulting with the community, but they do not have the authority to regulate the sale of e-cigarette products in the same manner. However, they do have a legal obligation to promote community well-being and have the capability to provide valuable local context and knowledge.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Special Report | From New York to Washington: How FDA’s Tobacco Center Is Reworking Product Review
Special Report | From New York to Washington: How FDA’s Tobacco Center Is Reworking Product Review
FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products is reshaping how it approaches tobacco product review. Based on 2Firsts’ on-site reporting in New York and Washington, this report traces CTP’s emerging direction: stronger links between PMTA and tobacco harm reduction, more category-specific review, greater emphasis on decision-relevant science, more predictable timelines and expanded use of sPMTA for product modifications. CTP also acknowledged major constraints, including just nine PMTA review teams, persistent backlogs and limits on hiring capacity.
Regulations
Oct.08
Latest UK ONS Data: 54% of Vapers Are Former Cigarette Smokers, 26% Also Smoke and 20% Never Smoked Regularly
Latest UK ONS Data: 54% of Vapers Are Former Cigarette Smokers, 26% Also Smoke and 20% Never Smoked Regularly
Former cigarette smokers accounted for an estimated 54% of current e-cigarette users in Great Britain in 2025, while 26% also smoked cigarettes and 20% had never regularly smoked, according to a 2Firsts analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Among former cigarette smokers who currently vape, approximately 81% used e-cigarettes daily, compared with about 50% of dual users. The ONS found that 33.8% of current cigarette smokers also vaped in 2025, up from 10.6% in 2014. Approximately 1.1 million adults who had never regularly smoked cigarettes used e-cigarettes, representing 2.9% of that population, compared with 0.2% in 2014. The figures highlight differences in the composition, frequency of use and long-term trends across Britain's vaping population.
DATA
Oct.14
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
At the 2026 New Approaches Summit in New York, FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Bret Koplow said the PMTA pathway is “predicated on tobacco harm reduction.” He outlined four CTP priorities: youth prevention, helping adults quit or switch to lower-risk products, improving relative-risk communication, and reducing unauthorized products. Koplow also addressed flavored e-cigarettes, public risk perceptions, industry credibility and efforts to make PMTA reviews more efficient and predictable.
Sep.26
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
German Customs Seize 115,800 Vapes in €1.4 Million Tax Case
Germany's Magdeburg Main Customs Office seized 115,800 untaxed e-cigarettes containing a combined 4.366 million mL of e-liquid during four truck inspections between August 10 and September 4, 2026. The seizures prevented an estimated €1.397 million in tax losses and set a record for the customs office's jurisdiction. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against four truck drivers. The case follows a separate German investigation involving more than 7.6 million illicit vapes and an estimated €33.3 million in excise-tax losses.
Enforcement
Oct.13
Beyond IQOS ILUMA, PMI Expands Lower-Priced BONDS Heated Tobacco Platform: Seven Markets Added in Q3, With Rollouts in Japan, Europe and North Africa
Beyond IQOS ILUMA, PMI Expands Lower-Priced BONDS Heated Tobacco Platform: Seven Markets Added in Q3, With Rollouts in Japan, Europe and North Africa
Philip Morris International (PMI) is expanding the international footprint of BONDS by IQOS, its lower-priced heated tobacco platform. The company's third-quarter 2026 SEC filing shows that BONDS devices and BLENDS tobacco sticks were available in 15 markets at the end of September, up from eight at the end of June. In November, PMI announced plans to extend sales from three to 17 Japanese prefectures and introduced BONDS in Spain and Morocco. The platform uses ROUNDHEAT external heating technology and proprietary tobacco sticks, separate from the IQOS ILUMA system. In Japan, BONDS retails for ¥2,980, approximately 25% below ILUMA i ONE, while BLENDS costs ¥570 per pack. PMI management says BONDS targets cigarette smokers who have not adopted heated tobacco. Separate sales and revenue figures remain undisclosed.
company
Nov.06
PMI's IQOS Extends ZAMNA Electronic-Music Partnership to Spain as Vogue España Publishes Branded Content
PMI's IQOS Extends ZAMNA Electronic-Music Partnership to Spain as Vogue España Publishes Branded Content
Philip Morris International's IQOS has extended its partnership with electronic-music event brand ZAMNA to Spain, setting up a House of IQOS at ZAMNA Madrid. Vogue España and Time Out Madrid subsequently published branded content clearly labeled as collaborations with IQOS. PMI has also expanded its company-owned IQOS boutique network in Spain to seven cities this year. The company says IQOS's adjusted heated-tobacco market share in Europe reached 12.6% in the first quarter of 2026, with Spain among its stronger-performing European markets.
Sep.20