Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chadwick Steve: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:630;Page:1973] 
9.  
STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) 
 to the  
Associate Minister of Health 
: What reports if any has he received on the impact of the amendments made to the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 I have seen a report confirming that the majority of smokers support the smoking ban in bars and restaurants and that the ban has delivered positive health economic and social outcomes. 
Steve Chadwick 
: What other reports has he seen on the impacts of the amendment to the Smoke-free Environments Act? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I have seen two. The first stated that the smoking ban was an example of the nanny State and went too far. The second stated that most New Zealanders had welcomed the move to restrict smoking in public places. The first quote was from Wayne “PC Eradicator” Mapp and the second was from the National Party leader Dr Don Brash. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I just remind members that they must use members’ correct titles in the House. 
Hone Harawira 
: What rationale does the Government have—given its stated support for a healthy population and its highlighting of the disastrous effects of cigarette smoking on the general population of this country and in particular the Maori population—for spending only 1.5 percent of the nearly $1 billion in tobacco tax on smoking cessation programmes? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I acknowledge that smoking is a huge health issue for the whole country but more particularly for its Maori population. We are committed in a number of ways including through the provision of Maori health providers themselves going to speak with Maori people to reducing the rate of smoking in the Maori population. That is a determination of this Government and we hope we get full support for that from the Maori Party. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that there are several people who used to go to the pub to have a beer with their cigarette but who now go home and smoke in front of their families and children; if so how does that deliver on the worthwhile outcomes he indicated earlier? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: We have a very active campaign that highlights the dangers of smoking in front of children. But I also remind the member that far more people go to the bars because there is now no smoking at the bars. So we have had a win for those bar owners and with the campaign we are running to highlight the dangers of smoking in front of children I am sure we will see a reduction in the incidence of that over time as well. 
Hone Harawira 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. My original question if I may just go back to it and shorten it was: what rationale does the Government have for spending only 1.5 percent of the nearly $1 billion in tobacco tax on smoking cessation programmes? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I have to say that we would like to spend far more on smoking cessation programmes but we are committed to spending a lot of money actually dealing with the health problems that are the outcomes of people smoking previously.