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These organisations and the 20,000 Kiwis who have signed or submitted in support of vaping can ’ t all be wrong !
signatures in support of access to flavoured vape products . Co-director of the AVCA , Nancy Loucas , said : “ Petitions and submissions are great democratic tools , but the problem is that the Ministry of Health made up its mind months ago , despite insisting that , in this process , ‘ every voice counts ’. Nancy highlighted that the ministry recommended a start date for the flavour restrictions prior to reading the public submissions , stressing that now is the time for ‘ pro-public health politicians ’ to intervene . “ The good news is it ’ s not over yet . In assessing the public submissions , the Ministry could recommend changes and , importantly , Cabinet gets to approve the final proposals ,” said Nancy . “ Public health entities , including Hāpai Te Hauora and ASH , strongly support flavours , choices , and options for smokers desperate to quit cigarettes .
“ These organisations and the 20,000 Kiwis who have signed or submitted in support of vaping , can ’ t all be wrong !” Nancy is now urging officials to reconsider the proposed regulations , underlining that if they come into effect , smoking rates could spike and ambitions for a smoke-free nation would falter . She said : “ Democracy has spoken . It ’ s time for a re-think from our politicians . Thankfully that opportunity is coming to Cabinet within the next three months .” Meanwhile New Zealand looks set to miss its Smokefree 2025 target , as the smoking rates continue to remain stubbornly high . While the numbers are declining , they would have to drop twice as fast as they are now for the goal to be achieved . New Zealand has an estimated 535,000 adult smokers – around 13 percent of the population – and tobacco remains a key factor for health inequalities with 31 percent of Māori and 22 percent of Pasifika currently smoking .
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