Tobacco, alcohol, fossil fuels and ultra-processed food drive one-third of global deaths, hitting the poorest hardest. For decades, New Zealand health leaders have sounded the alarm. Yet instead of curbing industry power, the coalition government has opened the door wider — to lobbyists, donors and policy sabotage. Dr Renee Liang asks: who really governs our health?
THE DR RENEE LIANG COLUMN
How big business is poisoning our health
2nd October 2025
Tobacco, alcohol, fossil fuels and ultra-processed food drive one-third of global deaths, hitting the poorest hardest. For decades, New Zealand health leaders have sounded the alarm. Yet instead of curbing industry power, the coalition government has opened the door wider — to lobbyists, donors and policy sabotage. Dr Renee Liang asks: who really governs our health?