Tobacco.org

Maori Affairs Committee to Hold Tobacco Inquiry 

The announcement that the Maori Affairs Select Committee will put the Tobacco Industry under the spotlight, as never before, will be a watershed moment for public health advocates in this country.

“For too long the tobacco industry has hidden in the shadows counting the money it makes off of its customers addiction. This industry has had a particularly devastating impact on the Maori community.” said Shane Bradbrook Director of Te Reo Marama (Maori Tobacco Control Advocates). “I am proud that the Maori Affairs Select Committee, on behalf of Maori, is taking the issue of tobacco addiction directly to those people that are responsible for its daily carnage.”

Whilst proponents will argue that tobacco use is a personal choice, and that users know the dangers, the reality is this industry has a track record of lies and deception that needs to be challenged in a public forum. The Tobacco Industry is about addiction for profit with minimal regard or responsibility for the 5000 deaths of New Zealanders, of which over 400 are Maori, each year.

“The tobacco industry should be held accountable and responsible for its role in killing so many New Zealanders. I would challenge anyone to provide a reason for this industry not being held accountable or even existing in this century,” stated Mr Bradbrook. “This industry has a thin veneer of corporate respectability that allows them to still operate with no regard for our communities.”

Jump to full article »