Govt anti-smoking but 'not necessarily anti-nicotine' - associate minister

Minister Casey Costello, responsible for smoking policies, spoke at a health forum emphasizing success in reducing smoking rates through vaping, especially among Maori women and youth. She aims to target hardcore smokers aged 45-64 for cessation. Costello supports harm reduction tools like vaping and nicotine patches to achieve Smokefree 2025. Despite criticism for delaying smokefree legislation and tax cuts on heated tobacco, she denied ties with the tobacco industry. Costello discussed combatting the illicit tobacco market in South Auckland.