An RNZ investigation has highlighted similarities between notes the associate health minister's office sent to officials, and strategies and arguments used by the tobacco industry.
The notes repeated the new government's plans to repeal recent smokefree laws, which would have slashed the number of tobacco retailers to just 600 outlets, cut the amount of nicotine in cigarettes, and made it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born in 2009 or later.
The notes contained a range of alternative proposals, including freezing tobacco excise tax and giving new-generation tobacco and nicotine products special tax treatment.
The minister, Casey Costello, has denied writing the notes and refused to say who did, saying they were collated from a range of sources.
RNZ data and features journalist Kate Newton has been looking at the notes.
Newton spoke to Corin Dann.
