<p>Future generations of New Zealanders will be banned from purchasing tobacco as part of a package of new anti-smoking laws that were passed in the Parliament on Tuesday and are among the most strict in the world.</p>.<p>The suite of new laws include bans on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, punishable by fines up to NZ$150,000 ($95,910). The ban will remain in place for a person's whole life.</p>.<p>The legislation will also reduce the amount of nicotine allowed in smoked tobacco products and cut the number of retailers able to sell tobacco by 90 per cent.</p>.<p>“This legislation accelerates progress towards a smokefree future,” Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said in a statement.</p>.<p>“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5 billion better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations."</p>.<p>Retailers licensed to sell tobacco will be cut to 600 by the end of 2023 from 6,000.</p>.<p>Already boasting one of the lowest adult smoking rates among the 38 countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, New Zealand is further tightening anti-smoking laws as part of a government push to make the country "smokefree" by 2025.</p>.<p>Only Bhutan, which banned cigarette sales in 2010, will have stricter anti-smoking laws.</p>.<p>The number of adult New Zealanders smoking fell by half over the past decade to 8 per cent, with 56,000 quitting in the past year. OECD data shows 25 per cent of French adults smoked in 2021.</p>.<p>Verrall said the legislation would help close the life expectancy gap between Maori and non-Maori citizens, which can range as high as 25 per cent for women.</p>.<p>ACT New Zealand, which holds ten out of 120 seats in Parliament, condemned the law, saying it would kill off small shops and force people onto the black market.</p>.<p>“No one wants to see people smoke, but the reality is, some will. And Labour’s nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems,” said Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden.</p>
<p>Future generations of New Zealanders will be banned from purchasing tobacco as part of a package of new anti-smoking laws that were passed in the Parliament on Tuesday and are among the most strict in the world.</p>.<p>The suite of new laws include bans on selling tobacco to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, punishable by fines up to NZ$150,000 ($95,910). The ban will remain in place for a person's whole life.</p>.<p>The legislation will also reduce the amount of nicotine allowed in smoked tobacco products and cut the number of retailers able to sell tobacco by 90 per cent.</p>.<p>“This legislation accelerates progress towards a smokefree future,” Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall said in a statement.</p>.<p>“Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives and the health system will be $5 billion better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking, such as numerous types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes, amputations."</p>.<p>Retailers licensed to sell tobacco will be cut to 600 by the end of 2023 from 6,000.</p>.<p>Already boasting one of the lowest adult smoking rates among the 38 countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, New Zealand is further tightening anti-smoking laws as part of a government push to make the country "smokefree" by 2025.</p>.<p>Only Bhutan, which banned cigarette sales in 2010, will have stricter anti-smoking laws.</p>.<p>The number of adult New Zealanders smoking fell by half over the past decade to 8 per cent, with 56,000 quitting in the past year. OECD data shows 25 per cent of French adults smoked in 2021.</p>.<p>Verrall said the legislation would help close the life expectancy gap between Maori and non-Maori citizens, which can range as high as 25 per cent for women.</p>.<p>ACT New Zealand, which holds ten out of 120 seats in Parliament, condemned the law, saying it would kill off small shops and force people onto the black market.</p>.<p>“No one wants to see people smoke, but the reality is, some will. And Labour’s nanny state prohibition is going to cause problems,” said Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden.</p>