Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

New Caledonia faces tobacco tax hike

Posted at 18:44 on 20 December, 2009 UTC

New Caledonia’s Congress is this week expected to discuss a proposed tobacco tax increase of 25 percent.

If approved, the price for a packet of cigarettes will go up to more than 10 US dollars.

The debate and a vote are expected today or tomorrow, with the rise expected to take effect by the middle of next week.

According to Noumea’s daily newspaper, the price hike could net the territorial government another 8 million US dollars a year.