In 2023/24, the prevalence of daily smoking was 6.9%. This is similar to the previous year (6.8%).

https://www.health.govt.nz/statistics-research/surveys/new-zealand-health-survey/publications/202324-survey-publications/trends-in-smoking-and-vaping

As you can see above, the increase was extremely minimal.

The Smokefree 2025 goal is 5%

One would assume this is largely the hardcore grouping that don’t want to quit.

Hence, Labour wanting to denicotinise cigarettes, leaving them (this hardcore group) no option.

What you say is true Pip, however it can be better defined by the word equality. Not like we have now with such a divisive government. Just read their policies.

We need to get rid of Brownlee as he is as corrupt as the rest of the government, whether it be smoking or gun policy this is the most corrupt we have seen. Don’t fret over a little war dance petal, worry about this government’s high unemployment, racism and conflict of interests that see’s even it’s own lawyers and countries economists telling us they are taking us backwards. You talk of intellect, the opposition has spades on the government. Bat shit thick Seymour and Luxon just for starters.

Trevor Labour looked after Maori pretty well. I gather that Maori got paid for having the covid jab, but white people didn’t. The weighty te Puapua doc was secretly produced by Labour not to help workers or bosses, but to empower a minority based on ethnicity. Read it.

So Trevor in the past you have implied Labour are beholden to the unions? Now when it suits your argument it’s the opposite.

Parliament is now a circus, with the Maori Party and the Greens in particular appearing to think that they’re drunken members of the Vienna Boys Choir, and too sociopathic, deluded, racist, and possibly mad, to know it, IMO. The maiden speech of the latest Green was profoundly depressing to witness, and the accusations he flung at middle New Zealand, unacceptable.

These song and dance routines in the debating chamber need to be banned pronto. All of them. They create diversion and division, are a colossal waste of taxpayer money, and do nothing to help anybody or anything apart their own over-inflated egos.

Ae, more workers in the mara kai would help solve of few of the problems listed by Martyn, whereas another hikoi probably wouldn’t achieve that much.

they’re all soft Gordon – years of privilege will do that to a person.

cognitive bias – an affliction of the mind… less. whilst I appreciate your sincerity, you are fooling yourself – why do you even bother posting here? we all railed against Labour when they did dumb shit, yet you just keep on with the Labour bad nonsense, when compared to this lot – they weren’t actually half bad. I eagerly await a time when I can praise National but I’m not holding my breath – give me something I can acknowledge National for doing? Key gave us fibre (monopolies), cycleways (through my dog walking park and not over the harbour bridge) and actually worked with Maori (because he had to) which I actually applaud them for. What’s Luxons plan? Where is he leading us, apart from the gutter?