Leader in Indigenous Health Resigns Due to New Zealand’s Decision to Roll Back Smoking Ban
His resignation came a week after the new government assumed power in Wellington and announced changes to smoke-free laws.
A prominent advisory voice for the health of New Zealanders has resigned from several government roles after saying that he has “no confidence” in the country’s new centre-right government’s policies which seek to cancel smoke-free laws.
In December 2022, the country passed laws aimed at reducing smoking rates, including restricting the nicotine content in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, reducing the number of retailers selling cigarettes by 90 percent, and banning cigarette purchases for those born after 2008.
Sir Collin Tukuitonga has resigned as the chairperson of Te Whatu Ora Pacific Senate which provides strategic Pacific people-strategic advice to New Zealand’s National Health Service.
Mr. Tukuitonga was born in Niue and qualified as a doctor in New Zealand before becoming an advocate and advisor to the government on the unique health requirements of Pasifika and Maori people.
According to the national health service, the Pacific Senate was set up to “deliver more equitable health outcomes for Pacific peoples.”
His resignation, came a week after the new National party-led coalition assumed power in Wellington.
Related Stories
The government announced changes to smoke-free laws, repealing amendments to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 and regulations before March 2024.
Tobacco Tax Proposed to Offset Property Tax Losses
A tax hole created by the cancellation of the National Party’s plan to tax foreign property buyers in the New Zealand market is expected to be funded by tax on tobacco.
New Zealand’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis told the Newshub program, “We have to remember that the changes to the smoke-free legislation had a significant impact on the government books, with about a billion dollars there.”
Under the new government’s changes, the Maori-specific Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora, created in 2022, will be abolished.
The National Party, in pre-election discussions, said they aimed to incorporate a “strong Māori health directorate inside the Ministry of Health.”
In New Zealand, statistics suggest Maori are disproportionately represented in smoking statistics and health issues associated with nicotine consumption.
However, Sir Collin Tukuitonga said that the move to abolish the Maori-specific agency was “premature and ill-advised” and that “Maori deserve better.”
“The government needs to do more with and for Māori. They have some of the worst health outcomes in the country as do our [Pacific] people,” Mr. Tukuitonga told RNZ Pacific.
“They are not going to treat Pacific people well and I want to be free to speak up and speak out.”
In a statement released on Dec. 12, the ACT Party, who are in coalition with the new government, intimated that the new government only wanted to work with like-minded advisors, saying they need to “get with the programme or get out.”
“ACT welcomes the resignation of any public officials who can’t bring themselves to implement the programme outlined by the elected government,” Health and Public Service spokesperson Todd Stephenson wrote.
“If someone believes they can’t do that because of their personal political—including the belief that some ethnic groups should be treated differently by the government simply because of their race—they should resign.
“It’s in no one’s interest to have top public advisors glumly going through the motions in high-paid positions when potential champions for service delivery would jump at the chance to fill those roles.”
