Tobacco companies should be made to ask iwi for permission to sell their products in their districts, a hearing in Auckland of Parliament's Maori Affairs Select Committee has heard.
MPs on the committee are looking at the tobacco industry and the consequences of smoking on Maori.
Submitters from Te Manawhenua and Tamaki-Makaurau recommended the tobacco industry should be required to ask for permission from iwi to sell tobacco in their area.
A common thread by submitters during the hearing on Wednesday was that the tobacco industry should be made accountable for its actions.
Boyd Broughton told the committee any laws passed need to ensure the tobacco industry is criminalised and not the smoker.
Daniel McCaffrey drew a lively response from the MPs when he said an increase in tobacco price does not decrease sales.
He says governments are too dependent on the tax from tobacco sales to ever ban the product entirely.
