New Zealand's government has approved plans to replace the current text warnings on cigarette packets with pictorial warnings, covering 30 per cent of the front of every cigarette pack and 90 per cent of the back.

The images will include diseased lungs, gangrenous toes and rotting gums and teeth. Associate health minister Damien O'Connor says the approach is designed to shock people into realising smoking kills and causes serious illness. He says using powerful imagery to remind people of the real and horrific effects of smoking will act to deter smokers and discourage New Zealand's youth from starting the habit in the first place.
New Zealand is obliged to increase the size of its health warnings within the next few years to comply with World Health Organisation rules.
Cigarette packs will also display the Quitline free phone number and other information about quitting smoking to help those wanting to give up take the next step. All tobacco products manufactured for sale in New Zealand must meet the new labeling regulations by 27 February 2008. (pi)