[Intl-tobacco] New Zealand/Israel: Maori Mix cigarettes in Israel ignites row

[Robert Weissman]

  *http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10359703

New Zealand Herald
Maori Mix cigarettes in Israel ignites row*

13.12.05 9.05am UPDATE

Maori politicians and health advocates are outraged that a tobacco
company named a brand of cigarettes Maori Mix.

The Maori Smokefree Coalition (Te Reo Marama) said Philip Morris was
marketing a brand of cigarettes called Maori Mix in Israel. The box
featured a quasi Maori design and a map of New Zealand.

Te Reo Marama spokesman Shane Bradbrook said the use of the Maori name
and the image was a defilement and unbelievable considering the high
smoking rate among Maori.

"Would we have them here and call them Jewish Mix? It would be as
offensive to the people in Israel as it is offensive for Maori."

Philip Morris said the cigarettes were a short-term special edition and
were no longer available anywhere in the world, Newstalk ZB reported
this morning. The company said the packs were intended to "communicate
open-minded acceptance of cultural diversity".

Te Reo Marama was notified about the brand by a Pakeha New Zealander
living in Israel who bought a packet home with her.

Mr Bradbrook said tobacco killed millions of indigenous people around
the world which added to the inappropriateness and the brand should be
pulled.

"It's appalling and we are talking to legal experts about what actions
we can take."

The director of the Public Health Association, Gay Keating, said tobacco
use was the single biggest killer of Maori.

"To therefore use the word 'Maori' on a tobacco product borders on the
obscene, and shows yet again that the tobacco industry is concerned only
with profits."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples was disgusted by the marketing ploy.

"My reaction was an immediate affront that our name would be mixed up
with an addiction which has reached what you could say are epidemic
proportions among our people," Dr Sharples said.

Apart from health issues the use infringed the Toi Iho (Maori Trademark)
- a process for commercial development of products based on Maori
imagery and culture.

"Companies who follow ethical practices would go through the appropriate
processes in place to ensure indigenous symbols are not
misappropriated," Dr Sharples said.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB