District health boards have been warned by the Health Ministry not to accept an offer from global tobacco giant Philip Morris to supply smokeless tobacco products to people trying to quit cigarettes.
RNZ has been given emails showing the company wrote to a senior DHB manager offering to supply its IQOS device free for community-based trials.
Philip Morris has also been trying to set up meetings with Auckland poverty action groups to promote its vaping products.
Ben Youdan is a veteran tobacco control advocate who works with ASH - he told Guyon Espiner tobacco companies are making a big play for the vape market and the Health Ministry is right to be wary.
