Labour Party recommits to smokefree goals at health panel

During a political panel hosted by Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA), the University of Otago, and the Public Health Communications Centre, New Zealand's Labour Party recommitted to its smokefree generation goals. Labour announced plans to restore smokefree generation policies and implement a licensing regime for tobacco and vapes. Additionally, Ayesha Verrall stated the party intends to reverse the tobacco tax cut, describing it as a tax break worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The forum addressed policy recommendations from HCA’s Prevention Brief 2026, which focuses on reducing harm from tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food. While Act, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori participated, HCA co-chair Professor Boyd Swinburn noted that National and New Zealand First declined to attend.

Key discussions included Act’s commitment to increasing the Pharmac budget for vaccines, such as those for RSV and shingles. Regarding political transparency, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori advocated for a lobbying register and a cooling-off period for politicians transitioning into lobbying roles. Labour also expressed support for increased transparency regarding meetings between lobbyists and ministers.