Dear Members of the Health Committee,

I’m writing today to urge you to ensure that measures are taken to protect vaping in the Smokefree Bill.

I have seen the benefits of switching from combustible tobacco to an e-cigarette first hand. And I know many other people in our country have benefited from making the same choice.

As we move towards a smokefree future, it’s crucial that adult smokers have good access to healthier alternatives – so they can quit smoking for good.

I’m concerned with current reports that indicate those of us who have decided to switch from combustible tobacco may be subject to higher taxes, flavour bans or a severely restricted number of outlets.

I urge you not to take these steps, which would simply drive people back towards smoking cigarettes – and instead allow smokers and former smokers to practically use healthier alternatives.

Dear Members of the Health Committee,

I am writing today to encourage the Committee to make vapes and e-cigarettes accessible to adult smokers as a part of the Smokefree Bill.

Recent reports have raised concerns that a small minority of dairy owners are allowing under 18’s to purchase vapes.

Nobody wants to see children vaping – but I’m concerned that some of the rumoured proposals to curb youth vaping could lead to adult smokers being prevented from switching to a healthier alternative or staying cigarette free.

Drastically reducing the number of e-cigarette outlets, as some are proposing, is simply throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Instead, I would urge the government to throw the book at these rogue dairy owners – and ensure retailers are only selling vapes to those over the age of 18.

Vaping is why New Zealand’s overall smoking rate has never been lower and why the country is on track to achieve Smokefree Aotearoa 2025. Let’s not put that at risk.

Dear Members of the Health Committee,

I am writing today to encourage the Committee protect the status of vapes and e-cigarettes in the Smokefree Bill.

New Zealand is leading the world, creating a Smokefree future. And we’ve already made fantastic progress towards the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal.

But vaping is big reason why New Zealand’s overall smoking rate has never been lower and why the country is on track to meet our Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal.

And as Minister Verrall says: ‘We need to continue supporting people who smoke tobacco to successfully switch to less harmful products.’

The Smokefree Bill represents an opportunity for us to lock in our progress – by ensuring that adult smokers are afforded continued access to affordable, effective, safer and healthier tobacco alternatives.

I am writing today to ask you, as a Member of the Health Committee, to help protect our access to healthier tobacco alternatives in the Smokefree Bill.

I was a smoker for a long time. But the governments proactive and sensible approach to less harmful alternatives enabled me to kick the habit and live a healthier life.

Quitting wasn’t easy – and I know it isn’t for many people – but easy access to a range of affordable options helped me to find what worked best.

For me, that meant an e-cigarette.

And thanks to the access to e-cigarettes in our country, I’ve managed to stay smoke free.

Reducing the number of cigarette outlets is a significant move – but doing the same for healthier alternatives will just push more people back towards cigarettes or on to the black market.

So for the sake of switchers like me – and current smokers that could lead a healthier life – I urge you and the rest of the committee to use the Smokefree Bill to protect our access to vapes and e-cigarettes.