Ever since the first 1964 US Surgeon-General’s report showed clear connection between cigarette smoking and cancer there has been an elaborate smokescreen campaign of denial, spurious research and sophisticated ploys by tobacco companies internationally to keep sales healthy. Despite long-time advertising bans in New Zealand, smoking-related cancer deaths remain major health problem and the early addiction of teens and pre-teens particular concern. ‘Product placements’ in movies and TV series, with more and more stars and role models ‘lighting up’, has helped tobacco companies circumvent bans to reach the young and impressionable. Landmark court cases have awarded massive damages to victims of smoking-related diseases, but with lengthy appeal processes payments might never be made. In the meantime, tobacco companies are busily diversifying and swamping third world countries with more lethal cigarettes.
If we want a stronger tech sector, we need a wider pipeline
Guest Contributor
March 12, 2026
If we want more young women to choose technology as a career, they must be able to see women shaping AI strategy, leading cybersecurity programmes, running partner ecosystems and sitting
