2. Question No. 2—HealthTANYA UNKOVICH (NZ First) to the Associate Minister of HealthQuestion No. 2—Health2. TANYA UNKOVICH (NZ First) to the Associate Minister of Health: What are the Government's plans in relation to Smokefree 2025?Hon CASEY COSTELLO (Associate Minister of Health): The Government is committed to the smoke-free target of less than 5 percent of people smoking daily by 2025. Our plan is to repeal the 2022 smoke-free amendments that have not yet taken effect namely reduced retailers denicotisation and prohibition to those born from 2009. We will also build on what currently works and is behind the recent dramatic decrease in smoking and continue to work to prevent young people from starting smoking and vaping. In particular we will work at education and cessation programmes access to alternative products to aid quitting and regulating access to related products. What's also important is that measures are targeted to individuals and communities that will benefit the most.Tanya Unkovich: What particular challenges does the Government need to address to achieve this smoke-free target?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: New Zealand has done very well in reducing smoking. As of mid - last year we were down to 284000 daily smokers from 573000 ten years ago. Smoking is nowhere as prevalent as it was and we're dealing with a much smaller group which is great news. The problem is we are dealing with a remaining group of long-term smokers who are addicted to nicotine so we need an approach that focuses on them and understands their needs and helps them to quit. The progress we have made means there are clearly some current measures such as vaping that work and I want to build on this and any other practical steps such as other products used around the world and targeted programmes that will help people stop smoking.Tanya Unkovich: Are there considerations other than health outcomes that the Minister needs to consider?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: Improving health outcomes is extremely important. However all Government policies need to be able to work and they need to consider real-world impacts. We can't just wish for good outcomes. That means we need to address the real problem we face which is that current smokers are addicted to nicotine and we need to help them to quit rather than moving to a prohibitionist regime. Cutting supply doesn't equate to reducing demand and the last Government's planned approach was also going to have consequences for retailers crime and the growth of the black market.SPEAKER: Supplementary question the Hon Mark Mitchell—sorry you don't sit down until I've called you. Do you want a supp or not?Hon Mark Mitchell: Point of order. I thought the question was over but I can wait until—SPEAKER: I can't hear you. Your mike's not on.Hon Mark Mitchell: I thought the question was over. But if there's a supp I can wait till after the supp.SPEAKER: Oh thank you thank you—appreciate that.Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall: With respect to the member's proposals for other regulated products are there any of those that would not increase the availability of tobacco and the profits of tobacco companies among her proposals?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: At this stage there are no proposals and I'm seeking advice broadly on a range of issues.Takutai Tarsh Kemp: Does she accept the Government's modelling that suggests Māori will not reach the 5 percent national target of smoking prevalence until 2061?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: No we don't accept that modelling and it was based on numbers that are not currently reflected.Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke: Given that smoking is the leading cause of premature death in Aotearoa what is her Government's strategy to rapidly address the inequity and accelerate smoking cessation among Māori to achieve nationwide targets?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: We're completely committed to targeted programmes rather than the blanket approach of the previous Government and will focus on those groups with the greatest need.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it the Minister's position that behind this policy is the wisdom of not imposing $8.6 billion of taxation upon Māori since 2011 when it comes to cigarette smoking or having people beaten up at supermarkets on a daily basis in ram raids all sorts of illegalities or the black market but by following this policy we have taken ourselves to number one in the world?Hon CASEY COSTELLO: Yes I completely agree with the Deputy Prime Minister.