The Ministry of Health is under fire for failing to declare a conflict of interest.  

It recently came to light that one of the officials advising Minister Casey Costello on tobacco reforms was the sister-in-law of Labour’s health spokesperson, Ayesha Verrall. 

Verrall is a vocal opponent of Costello’s policies. 

Senior Political Reporter Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it’s a disgrace. 

He says that even though the Director General of Health says the Ministry adhered strictly to the rules of conflict of interest, they failed to pass that particular conflict on to Costello. 

Soper says they’ve fallen well short, as multiple people were well aware of the conflict and failed to report it.  

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