Costello's advice on HTP's could expose NZ

An odd assemblage of papers that could expose Aotearoa to a radical and potentially harmful experiment. That's how one public health expert describes the five documents that make up minister Casey Costello's so called independent advice on heated tobacco products. Officials told the New Zealand First Cabinet minister that tobacco company Philip Morris would be the biggest winner from tax cuts on heated Tobacco products or HTP's, which they said were more toxic and harmful than vaping. Costello claimed she'd got her own independent advice to the contrary and went ahead with a 50% excise tax cut of HTPs costing up to 216 million. At first she refused to release the advice, but after the pressure went on, the papers were made public yesterday. Health Coalition Aotearoa Spokesperson and smoking and nicotine researcher, Chris Bullen spoke to Lisa Owen.