133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
18 January 2024
Mr Corher
By email: [FYI request #24940 email]
Ref:
H2023033264
Tēnā koe Mr Corher
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health - Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 29 November 2023 for information regarding the
repeal of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment
Act 2022. You requested:
“... any correspondence or research you have conducted concerning future costs, related
to things such as loss of life and healthcare spending, related to the rollback of the
Smokefree Legislation.”
As of the date of your request, the Ministry had not conducted any work regarding the repeal of
the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act
2022. As such, your request is refused under section 18(g)(i) of the Act as the information
requested is not held by the Ministry and there are no grounds for believing it is connected more
closely with the functions of another agency subject to the Act.
The Ministry is currently working through the process of providing advice on this matter, which is
being actively considered by Cabinet. It would be advisable to submit a new information request
in the future. An appropriate time to submit a new request would be in April 2024.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on: [email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Dr Andrew Old
Deputy Director-General Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui
