The world's news media has reacted strongly to the new Government's move to scrap smokefree laws, with most reporting on the disapproval from health experts and the fact that smokers will fund tax cuts.
It comes after incoming Finance Minister Nicola Willis said on Saturday that the former Government's ban on young generations from smoking would have dented tax revenue.
"The changes to the smokefree legislation had a significant impact on the government books, with about $1 billion there," Willis told Newshub Nation on Saturday.
She said the measures would be scrapped from March next year and tax revenue from smokers would now partly pay for her party's promised tax cuts.
What's the world's media saying?
Bloomberg reported our next Government is scrapping our "vaunted laws" which aimed to make Aotearoa smoke-free.
"Legislation banning tobacco sales to people born after 2008 will be dumped by the new administration, according to coalition agreements."
The Independent UK reported that public health officials were "aghast" at the reversal.
"Public health officials in New Zealand say that the reversal would put thousands of lives at risk and be especially damaging to the Māori communities who have higher smoking rates."
France's AFP said the incoming Government will "jettison world-leading measures" to curb smoking.
AFP reported that Luxon admitted cigarette sales would generate welcome revenue for the Government but that wasn't "the motivation".
India's Hindustan Times' story said the new Government is getting rid of the smoking ban "to fund tax cuts", and it's been "strongly criticised" by health experts.
"Chris Luxon argued that the ban would lead to a black market for tobacco."
Euronews reported it was a "win for the tobacco industry", citing critics of the plan which "sought to stop the next generation smoking".
The Guardian cited health experts who said "the law was designed to prevent thousands of smoking-related deaths and save the health system billions of dollars".
"As part of its coalition agreement with populist New Zealand First, National agreed to repeal the amendments," the paper wrote.
NPR in the US reported that again, the new Government was funding its tax cuts by rolling back the smoking ban.
"The latest step in the country's ambitious plan to sharply reduce smoking is now in jeopardy due to political necessity.
"Strict anti-smoking laws are set to become a casualty of the compromises required to form his new coalition government."
Germany's Deutsche Welle (DW) News reported Luxon "would scrap new anti-smoking laws before they came into effect".
"Luxon confirmed the decision ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, citing fears that the ban would fuel a flourishing black market."
Time Magazine's story read New Zealand is dumping "the world's first generational smoking ban" one year after passing the legislation.
It quoted Luxon as saying his top priority was to improve the economy and curb inflation.
Australia's Sydney Morning Herald's headline said Aotearoa "backtracks on world-first tobacco ban".
It quoted Sarah Jackson, from the University College London, who said the decision could threaten plans in other nations such as the UK.
The UK's BBC angled their story on health experts criticising the new Government's "shock" reversal on smokefree laws "to fund tax cuts".
"Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths in New Zealand, and the policy had aimed to stop young generations from picking up the habit."
The UK state broadcaster also reported PM Rishi Sunak is pressing ahead with his own smokefree laws, despite the reversal in Aotearoa.
Australia's ABC News quoted Reuters, who reported the new Government is repealing "what would have been some of the world's toughest tobacco laws" adding the move has copped "widespread criticism from health experts."
"The country's new centre-right coalition will scrap the laws introduced by former prime minister Jacinta Arden [sic]"
Why did the new Government change anti-smoking laws?
It comes after New Zealand First blocked National's plans to allow foreign buyers back into Aotearoa's residential property market during coalition negotiations.
But NZ First and ACT were also concerned Labour's changes to smokefree laws could fuel the black market and spur ram-raids at retailers.
The former Labour-led Government said the measures would save lives and reduce costs on taxpayers from smoking-related illnesses.
It would have prevented anyone born after 31 December 2008 from ever buying tobacco products, and would've reduced the number of tobacco retailers.
But it wasn't due to take effect until July next year.
Our laws were believed to have inspired UK PM Rishi Sunak to introduce a similar ban there in September.
