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World's smallest state aims to become the first smoke-free paradise island 

It is the world's smallest self-governing state, with a population of just 1,400 and few resources other than fish and coconuts. But the South Pacific island of Niue believes it can set an example by becoming the first country in the world to go smoke-free.

There are about 250 smokers on Niue, a speck of coral with a GDP of barely NZ$6,000 (£2,280) per person, and local officials say the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses is placing a heavy strain on the health budget.

Sitaleki Finau, Niue's director of health, is backing a bill to prohibit smoking and the sale of tobacco in public areas and private homes. The bill has been presented to parliament, but the government has not yet signed up to it. Dr Finau said he expected a ban to face stiff opposition from the tobacco industry and other commercial interests. But he urged MPs to be bold and vote for it.

"Small countries are allowed to be ambitious," he said yesterday. "If a small country can do this, then big countries will start thinking. Imagine what that means." The government would lose revenue from tobacco taxes but that would be more than offset by savings in the health budget, he said.

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• Australia should consider cigarette export ban: Niue doctor 

Health authorities in the tiny South Pacific nation of Niue want Australia’s help as the country moves to become one of the world’s first to ban smoking.

New laws mooted in the country would ban the sale of cigarettes and smoking in all public areas, including inside private homes, which are considered public by lawmakers.

Niue’s director of health Doctor Sitaleki Finau said Australia should declare whether it could back the move and introduce export bans on cigarette companies selling the products to his island nation.

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• World's smallest state aims to become first smoke-free island paradise 

It is the world's smallest self-governing state, with a population of just 1,400 and few resources other than fish and coconuts. But the South Pacific island of Niue believes it can set an example by becoming the first country in the world to go smoke-free.

There are about 250 smokers on Niue, a speck of coral with a GDP of barely $6,000 per person, and local officials say the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses is placing a heavy strain on the health budget.

Sitaleki Finau, Niue's director of health, is backing a bill to prohibit smoking and the sale of tobacco in public areas and private homes.

The bill has been presented to parliament, but the Government has not yet signed up to it.

Dr Finau said he expected a ban to face stiff opposition from the tobacco industry and other commercial interests.

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South Pacific island Niue mulls nationwide ban on tobacco and smoking, says health official 

Health officials want to make the tiny South Pacific island of Niue the first country in the world to be fully smoke-free by banning tobacco.

A bill proposing to ban smoking and the sale of tobacco in all public areas and private homes has been drafted and presented to lawmakers, Dr. Sitaleki Finau, Niue's top public health official, said Tuesday.

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Niue seeks NZ help to ban smoking  

Health authorities in the tiny South Pacific nation of Niue want New Zealand and Australia's help as the country moves to become one of the world's first to ban smoking.

New laws mooted in the country would ban the sale of cigarettes and smoking in all public areas, including inside private homes, which are considered public by lawmakers.

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Niue considers payments to become smoke-free 

Niue could become the first country in the world to eliminate smoking, under a plan to pay its smokers to quit.

Only about 1500 people live in Niue, one of the smallest nations on earth, but 200 of them smoke.

Niue Premier Young Vivian says it would be cheaper to pay all smokers up to $2000 each to stop smoking than to continue to pay for their health care costs.

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• Island nation may quit smoking  

The tiny Pacific nation of Niue could become the first in the world to eliminate smoking under a plan to pay its smokers to quit.

Two hundred of the country's 1500 people smoke. The Premier, Young Vivian, said yesterday that it would be cheaper to pay all smokers up to $1700 each to stop smoking than it was to continue to pay for their health-care costs.

"If your health bill is climbing beyond $NZ200,000 [$171,000], up to $NZ1 million per year, then it is preferable to pay [smokers to quit]," he said in Tonga.

"We are having referral cases to New Zealand. We send three, four, five per week because of smoke-related diseases." . . .

This month it was announced that a bill would be tabled in Parliament banning smoking in all public places, worksites, government departments and tourist areas.

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• Niue to discuss bill to restrict tobacco use 

Niue's Associate Minister of Health says a new tobacco control bill will be tabled in parliament this week.

The bill bans smoking in all public places, workspaces, government departments and tourist places.

It also contains a provision for village councils to ban smoking in their villages and ban the sale of tobacco.

Fisa Pihigia says while he fully supports the bill, it won't be easy to get widespread support.

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