The health benefits from baccy taxes are obvious – but taxpayers will cough up more in the long run

Another study is promoting the line that raising taxes on cigarettes would stop people smoking, thereby saving millions of lives.

The study reckons that raising taxes would have a three-pronged benefit – saving lives, cutting smoker numbers and generating revenue.

Just one thing: a successful policy will dissuade smokers from continuing with their habit, and the more successful the policy, the fewer smokers remain to pay the tax.

So how can the Government coffers benefit from that?

And now the NZ Herald unabashedly approves race discrimination in the health system

“But that’s not how we measure you up for our voucher scheme.”

It’s disappointing but not surprising to find the NZ Herald approving a health scheme that will benefit only some people – to be selected racially.

This is the same newspaper that fudged the racist component when it reported on the scheme earlier this week.

The eligibility criteria that are buried somewhat in the Herald report are clearly set out on the Counties Manukau Health website: