A multinational cigarette company has started an aggressive fightback against laws and price rises intended to make people quit the habit.
A series of tax rises – with more on the way – has made New Zealand cigarettes among the most expensive in the OECD.
Other measures such as plain packaging are being considered, and from Monday, shops will have to hide their cigarette displays.
But tobacco giant Philip Morris says the regulations are going too far.
The company, which has the third-largest share of the New Zealand tobacco market, is distributing cards to shops directing people to a website through which smokers can have their say on the regulations.
Retailers are being asked to hand the cards to customers buying Philip Morris products.
The myopinioncounts.co.nz website, which went live yesterday, “was a place where adult smokers could voice their opinions about regulatory issues”, said Philip Morris spokesman Chris Bishop.
By Teuila Fuatai for NZ Herald