Indian THR Advocates

Grandfather of New Zealand tobacco control and pioneer of e-cigarette research Dr Murray Laugesen (1935–2026) It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of Dr Murray Laugesen on 11 October 2026, aged 90. He was a public health physician whose work shaped tobacco control in NZ for more than 40 years. Murray served as principal medical officer in the New Zealand Ministry of Health (1984–1995) and was central to the development of the world-leading Smoke-free Environments Act 1990. He received the WHO Tobacco or Health medal in 1998 and the Queen’s Service Order in 2000. After leaving the public service he continued independent research and advocacy through Health New Zealand and as the founder of End Smoking NZ (established 2006). He was a relentless reader of the scientific literature and an example of open-minded inquiry—always looking for cracks in settled assumptions and for interventions that could reach people on the lowest incomes and in remote settings, not only those who could access cessation medicines or expensive devices. Under his leadership, End Smoking NZ first advocated for legal access to Swedish snus. When that path was denied, Murray turned immediately to the next promising development. Murray conducted the first independent analysis of the first Ruyan e-cigarette developed by Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik. His chemical and toxicological assessments, followed by a randomised crossover trial (Bullen et al., Tobacco Control, 2010, which included Murray, me - Marewa Glover, and Hayden McRobbie, among the authors), were among the first independent evaluations of the product’s emissions, nicotine delivery, craving relief and acceptability. The device contained no tobacco and produced no smoke. Murray recognised its potential as a scalable harm-reduction tool. With founding End Smoking NZ colleague Dr Ross McCormick (psychiatrist), he argued for regulated access on the same pragmatic grounds that support methadone programmes: not everyone can or will quit entirely, but a satisfying, affordable, alternative can reduce disease and death. From the late 2000s our group educated clinicians, policymakers and the public about vaping and pressed for sensible regulation. Murray understood that political and public acceptance of scientific advances can take decades but he stayed focused and persistent. New Zealand eventually enabled adult access. Daily smoking prevalence roughly halved between the early 2010s and the mid-2020s, with the steepest declines coinciding with wider vaping uptake. Murray lived to see this outcome—an uncommon privilege for a researcher. Many long-term smokers have gained years of improved health; youth smoking has fallen to historic lows. As Sweden’s longer experience with lower-risk nicotine products has shown, reductions in lung cancer and cardiovascular disease are predicted to follow. On a personal note, in 1993, Murray recruited me into this mission — to reduce the suffering and premature deaths caused by smoking-related disease. I count myself extremely fortunate to have worked with and be mentored by him. He modelled what it means to be a careful scientist: to read widely, hunt for promising ideas, and remain open to evidence that points to better approaches. His passing is a loss to the international tobacco harm-reduction community. The practical, evidence-driven approach he championed continues to save lives. Photo: Murray, Me & ex-ASH NZ Director Trish Fraser at launch of his 2019 memoir, ‘My Life in Public Health’.