Labour pledges to reinstate Smokefree Generation policy ahead of 2026 election

Labour will reinstate its Smokefree Generation policy if returned to government after the 2026 election, health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced at a Health Coalition Aotearoa panel in Parliament. The policy would ban anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from purchasing tobacco products. The coalition government repealed the original 2022 law. The Greens and Te Pāti Māori support reinstatement.