The government of New Zealand is rejecting calls for a 20% tax on fizzy soft drinks as it does not consider imposing taxes to be a feasible solution for reducing consumption.
New Zealand Health Minister Jonathan Coleman told TVNZ's Q+A programme that the government will focus on how sugary products are marketed and other voluntary measures from the food industry instead of imposing taxes on such products.
"Marketing is an issue but we've got to work with the industry to turn that around and if you look at the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines, which the industry has signed up to, there's been major changes over time," Coleman added.
The government is working on a programme to tackle obesity in pregnant women by focusing on exercise, portion control and the diets.
Figures released by the New Zealand Health Survey show that around 1.2 million people in the country are obese. This means three in every 10 adults and one in nine children are victims of obesity.
The government has earmarked around $40m into the Healthy Families programme, which focuses on lifestyle change, including changing eating and exercise habits.
