Associate Health Minister Casey Costello — the one who repealed the Smoke-Free Generation law in 2024 — is now 'considering a review' of tobacco excise. Excise is the single most-evidenced lever for smoking cessation. Also the only cessation policy she hasn't already killed. #nzpol

Saw this today. #nzpol Full details at www.treatyfilm.com Writer Producer Director Wero Te Kino. Title: Political Lies. ( more on site or alt tag) “It is being made 100% Guerrilla Styles, on a micro low budget, using whatever resources, equipment, financing, cast and crew I can get on board”

Latest News: Approximately half the 6010 US adults in this study who currently use ENDS reported experiencing an overheading fire and explosion (OFE) incident. A total of 4.8% reported that they or someone else had experienced an injury because of a serious OFE incident. https://bit.ly/3SkifEb

Smokefree starts: Most people know that smoking is bad for your physical health but few people know that smoking can impact your mental health. smokefreestarts.co.uk/campaigns/ph... @ashorguk.bsky.social @btsrespiratory.bsky.social #LungSky #RespEd

Yes, just the sort of thing they would sneak through under urgency, it's how they repealed the measures that would have made a difference (denicotinisation, retailer reduction, smokefree generation).

These are the products Costello wants to allow in Aotearoa. Highly addictive, targeted at young people, no established safety profile and no evidence they support smoking cessation at a population level. Oh, but highly profitable for tobacco companies.

So proud to be a good bitch! The GBB team throughout Aotearoa really make a difference 🧁💗

Totally agree; my first three degrees (in English Literature, specialising in very early medieval poetry) are immensely useful in my role as a public health academic. Also a perfect complement to the many science papers I also studied. Learning to think is sadly under-rated!

It was pointed out today by one of the scientists who developed the cooling cap for babies that's used worldwide that their research wouldn't be funded today bc it arose from blue sky research and wasn't commercialised! www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Important reading. Instead of potentially lowering tobacco excise taxes, Costello should be looking at measures that require tobacco companies to meet the profound health and environmental costs their products impose on people, communities and the planet.

De tabaksindustrie maakt winst. De samenleving betaalt de rekening. Tijd om dat om te draaien. De vervuiler betaalt. Ook de tabaksindustrie. #MakeBigTobaccoPay

Stopping smoking and illicit tobacco trade requires licensing, maintaining high prices, strong enforcement and high penalties. Costello, aided by Ryan Bridge, socialises making more nicotine products available and cutting excise tax on tobacco. tinyurl.com/4zxve77a

No need for anyone to write a history of this term of Government. Here it is, in a single headline.

A very perceptive (but deeply saddening) analysis of science "reforms" and political leadership in Aotearoa: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Our response in @addictionjournal.bsky.social to a hyperbolic critique of Australia's track record in tobacco control which over-eggs N Zealand as the way for a vape-led plunge in smoking, when other nations w liberal access vape policies don't match onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

An important critique that should be compulsory reading for anyone who views Aotearoa New Zealand's vaping regulation as a model to adopt.

Terrific BBC program about an outstanding public health success. So good to hear the story being told by David Hill, who has contributed so much across so many areas. Only ten minutes - v. highly recommended listening to anyone interested in the history of effective public health campaigns.

Congratulations to Ruth Canty, PhD student extraordinaire, on her publication:@mhef.bsky.social @coralgartner.bsky.social doi.org/10.22605/RRH...

This is a man who fundamentally sees not a single solitary valuable thing about research except any monetary return it can provide, and what his government is doing to our research system illustrates this perfectly

An important reality check on Philip Morris's calls for a seat at the table in EU tobacco policy discussions, given their so-called "profound transformation" tinyurl.com/mp85szfh. Our analysis of how that transformation just isn't happening: tinyurl.com/2wve582p @predwards.bsky.social

Thoughtful new editorial in the Guardian notes: "But there is no clear benefit to allowing nicotine to become widely available, the science on pure nicotine use is still limited and downstream products like vapes are not benign." Details here: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Good summary.

Our new op-ed examines how Aotearoa NZ can address illicit tobacco trade: newsroom.co.nz/2026/06/24/s... (Spoiler: the solution is not reducing tobacco excise tax or introducing new unproven nicotine products)

No, Big #Tobacco has NOT "transformed," new analysis finds, putting to rest the naive idea: tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/earl... @predwards.bsky.social @janethoek.bsky.social @bmjtobacco-control.bsky.social

Jones topped overall domestic travel and accommodation spending this term, coming in at about $420,000; National’s Louise Upston was second at $400,000. Ahhh Upston - who claimed $52,000 a year accommodation allowance for an apartment she owns in Wellington. #nzpol

Luxon: "New Zealanders who do the right thing by working hard, saving up and investing deserve a Government that backs them - not to be punished with more taxes that hit their investments and make them worse off." "Especially the tobacco industry and landlords", he did not add.

National: Won’t somebody think of the high earning property mogels and tobacco CEO’s! #NZPol

Some intrepid NZ reporter should track down each member of parliament who uses GLP-1 drugs and ask them why they are ok with our govt cutting basic science funding #nzpol

“…in one year, the current Government awarded landlords more money than has been paid out to Māori in 40 years as compensation for historical wrongs.” Dr Neal Curtis. (2.9b v 2.7b) #AoNZpol

WTF #nzpol

In today’s HeraldOnSunday

Excellent new analysis led by @predwards.bsky.social finds more gaps in tobacco industry rhetoric regarding its "transformation" and what it's actually achieving. Short take out: the leopard hasn't changed its spots.

Congratulations to @kyliemorphett.bsky.social and @cretobacco.bsky.social on their latest study synthesising research on tobacco endgame goals: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

Our new study, led by @judeball.bsky.social, finds vaping products are less visible in retail stores, but very low-cost products remain widely available and retailer compliance with measures introduced a year ago is patchy. See our briefing here: www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/new...

Our latest MS in @bmjtobacco-control.bsky.social examines how inserts offering tips on quitting smoking, enhancing confidence, and envisaging benefits could complement on-pack health warnings. See our briefing summarising the findings here: www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/hel...

Most people who smoke regret starting and want to quit. New research suggests supportive messages inside tobacco packs could help build confidence to quit and complement existing warning labels. @janethoek.bsky.social #SmokefreeAotearoa www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/hel...

Important new story on vaping's ubiquity by Emma Gleason: thespinoff.co.nz/society/08-0...

🧵(1/3) Please share details of the ASPIRE Aotearoa Centre's upcoming symposium where we will outline key findings from our latest nicotine products research. Registration free (in person or online); details and conditions here: www.aspireaotearoa.org.nz/news-events/...

In addition to chemical constituents, regulators need to address misleading designs and labels on tobacco products that suggest that a flavor is present when it is clearly not.

This example makes it very clear that tobacco companies are not transforming, but fight tooth and nail to keep people who smoke smoking, specifically perpetuating the health disparities associated with menthol cigarette smoking.

As reported by the CDC Foundation, the introduction of "non-menthol" cigarettes partially offset the decline in smoking due to the ban of menthol cigarettes in California.

In response, California lawmakers amended legislation, resulting in a ban of cooling additives. However, "non-menthol" cigarettes did not disappear from the market. Box design from 2023 and 2025 are identical, besides of the cellophane wrappers with text on gold or black/gold backgrounds.

In 2023 we reported that Newport and Camel "non-menthol" cigarettes introduced in California after the state's flavor ban contained WS-3, a synthetic cooling menthol analogue. Companies claimed that a cooling effect does not represent a characterizing flavor.

#TobRegSky #PedSky #MedSky #Pulmsky #EpiSky #addictionsci #policysky #polisky #neuroskyence 🛟 🫁💊🧪 🌍⚖️ In our new paper we report that tobacco companies removed synthetic cooling agents from "non-menthol" cigarettes in California. From cool to non-cool: California’s ‘non-menthol’ cigarettes in 2025

Just letting everyone know about the petition against NZ First's Bill to define women and men: our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/e-...

Shades of Costello in Luxon's behaviour? tinyurl.com/mucpr2w8. She's never explained where her mystery document outlining tobacco policy came from (online here: tinyurl.com/3je4bxr5) WARNING: Very tobacco industry friendly

In an article published today Lord McConnell calls for restrictions on displays and promotions of vapes. ASH Scotland supports this, calling for urgent regulatory actions to protect children from harms caused by vapes. Watch ASH Scotland's interview with Lord McConnell - bit.ly/4fUQQ1Q

Stuff report headline "Minister seeking tougher accommodation supplement criteria claims $1000 a week housing allowance". Notes "Upston wouldn’t answer... questions about whether she contributes more than 40% of her income towards her accommodation costs." Appalling. tinyurl.com/2bnf6d5c

More evidence that the current govt's approach to tobacco policy is not what people want. Prof Chris Bullen explains a new Health Coalition Aotearoa briefing: www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Researchers warn the tobacco industry has a long history of using concerns about illicit tobacco to argue against stronger tobacco control measures. Responses to illicit trade in Aotearoa must not come at the expense of policies that reduce smoking harm. @janethoek.bsky.social tinyurl.com/ytu8hucc