Tau Henare

By Kate Chapman of NZPA

Wellington, Sept 23 NZPA - Maori Affairs select committee chairman Tau Henare wants electronic cigarettes to be freely available to help those addicted to nicotine.

Electronic cigarettes, known as e-cigarettes, provide inhaled doses of nicotine through a vaporised liquid solution.

Battery-powered, they are an alternative to smoked tobacco products and are often shaped like cigarettes.

The vapour provides the flavour and physical sensation of smoking tobacco, but no tobacco or smoke is involved.

Mr Henare said the product allowed him to go a whole day without smoking a traditional cigarette.

Electronic cigarettes give people their nicotine fix without exposing them to the toxic chemicals in tobacco, the National MP said.

"You know how cool this is? Want me to show you?," Mr Henare asked Ministry of Health officials appearing before the select committee this morning.

The ministry's senior analyst of tobacco control, Brendon Baker, said electronic cigarettes had not yet been tested for their safety.

"We have to ensure they're safer than cigarettes. They probably are, most things are."

Part of the problem with the electronic version was that they came in different flavours and could be a market entry aimed at young people, he said.

There were other similar products such as Swedish suns -- small tobacco pouches absorbed by being placed under the tongue, Mr Baker said.

However, Mr Henare was defiant.

"I don't want to suck on a tea bag, I want to put this (e-cigarette) in my mouth.

"I'd rather have my kids suck on one of these rather than a Winfield Red."

The issue arouse after Maori Party MP Hone Harawira asked whether the Ministry of Health supported a total ban on tobacco products.

Margie Apa, deputy director responsible for tobacco control, said that was a decision for politicians.

The main concern for the ministry would be what to do with the 20 percent of New Zealanders highly addicted to nicotine.

Labour MP Mita Ririnui suggested "giving them something to suck on".

Ms Apa said banning tobacco would require involvement from a number of agencies.

From a public health perspective the most important thing was supporting people who wanted to quit and harm minimisation, she said.

Any attempt to reduce tobacco consumption must be an inclusive approach involving, taxation, banning displays, health and education and cessation assistance, Ms Apa said.