1 Feb 2024

Documents show proposals for smokers to get tax breaks came from minister Costello

From Midday Report, 12:12 pm on 1 February 2024

New documents reveal proposals for smokers to get tax breaks came directly from the Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, despite her strong denials.

The New Zealand First Minister has been under fire in Parliament after telling RNZ last week that she hadn't sought advice on freezing cigarette excise tax for three years.

That conflicted with a Health Ministry document saying she had. RNZ has now obtained the original notes Costello sent to officials late last year.

Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner spoke to Charlotte Cook.