Tobacco is four times more available in low-income communities compared to affluent ones, says a Māori health organisation.

Hāpai Te Hauora said increasing the tax on tobacco was good but reducing where it was sold would be more beneficial to Māori.

However, one researcher disputed that and said the best thing for Māori was to scrap the tax hike altogether. Hapai Te Hauora spokesperson Mihi Blair said there was a stark difference in how much tobacco was available in different parts of Auckland.