Abstract
In February 2024, Aotearoa New Zealand’s coalition Government repealed policies that would have greatly reduced the addictiveness, availability and accessibility of smoked tobacco. This decision did not heed advice from the Ministry of Health, overlooked experts’ views, and was contrary to public opinion. Because the repeal occurred under urgency, a process that does not include public submissions or allow for external scrutiny, analysing the arguments presented may help explain how such an unpopular decision proceeded. This information can assist other countries hoping to introduce similar policies. In this Briefing, we discuss core narratives presented by Government and Opposition MPs, and consider implications these may have for other countries considering tobacco endgame measures.