66103 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

66103 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What consultation, if any, did she undertake with stakeholders regarding the change to excise duty from heated tobacco products, listed by title and date?

Hon Casey Costello: Taxing smokeless tobacco at a lower rate than cigarettes was included in the NZ First-National Coalition Agreement, which was released publicly on 24 November 2023. I can also advise that stop smoking services have consistently told me that lower risk options that can be provided to smokers to support them to transition away from smoking tobacco are useful, particularly for those who have been unsuccessful in previous quit attempts. For information about when I have met with stop smoking services, the Member can view my diary, which is proactively released every month at https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/hon-casey-costello.