ACT has raised concerns tourists might not want to come to New Zealand if they're not allowed to buy cigarettes while they're here.
Associate Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall on Thursday announced plans to cut off sales to anyone currently aged 14 or below, permanently, from 2026.
"We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth."
Low-nicotine products will still be available for those old enough to have already gotten hooked, and vaping products will also remain legal for anyone 18 or over.
Selah Hart, chief executive of Māori public health service operator Hāpai te Hauora, told The AM Show on Friday the policy is "glorious".
"It's been over a decade since the Māori Affairs Select Committee actually laid out those 42 recommendations on what we need to achieve a smokefree Aotearoa. Yesterday was a momentous occasion where we actually saw some of that put into place."
Smoking amongst youth has plummeted in the past two decades, down from 15.2 percent in 2000 to 1.9 percent in 2018. Their older brothers and sisters aren't smoking the way they used to either - use amongst 15- to 17-year-olds dropping from 14 percent in 2007 to 3 percent.
With so few young people getting addicted, the Government is hoping prohibition for future generations will eradicate use of the highly addictive substance, without forcing older Kiwis to go cold turkey.
ACT is opposed to the move, saying it will result in a black market for tobacco controlled by the gangs.
"I've got four children of my own and I used to be a smoker," said Karen Chhour, the party's social development and children spokesperson.
"The last thing I'd ever want is for my children to pick up smoking. I agree with the concept, I just don't agree with the way it's being put in place."
Hart acknowledged there is a potential for a black market to form, saying tougher borders will "ensure those that are thriving off this, bringing in illicit tobacco products [can] be stopped".
"I'm also a mother, I'm also an ex-smoker and I'm not willing to play it really soft in this space. We are seeing nearly 5000 New Zealanders every year dying from this product - why do we need it anymore?"
We might need it if we don't want to put off tourists, Chhour said.
"As you get older and you're an adult, you should have freedom of choice of what you're deciding to do with your life. Youth smoking, a terrible thing and we should not be allowing youth to smoke. But freedom of choice as you get older - can you imagine coming to this country to visit and being told by your travel agent, 'What age are you in 10 years' time? You're 24? Just remember you can't smoke in New Zealand. But if you're 25 you can."
If ACT is to ever stop the policy becoming law, it'll need to get into Government - but its only feasible coalition partner, National, backs the policy. It was under National that the original Smokefree 2025 goal was set, back in 2011.
"We support harm reduction - we've got a good record in Government, we support the intention of this," senior MP and father-of-three Simon Bridges told The AM Show on Friday. "I think we've got to see the detail. There is a bit of scepticism about the realism, the workability of it. But let's see the detail. Let's go in with an open mind."
