Almost 150 owners and managers of Western Bay dairies, gas stations, and grocery stores have sent in submissions opposing a bill forcing local retailers to sell plainly packaged tobacco items.
Ninety-nine submissions came from Tauranga and 50 were from the rest of the Western Bay.
New Zealand Association for Convenience Stores chair Roger Bull said the submissions came out of concern the plain packaging would hinder business and had been sent to the Health Select Committee.
Mr Bull said more than 4000 concerned retailers and small businesses nationwide had made submissions against the packaging.
Retailers were concerned the plain packaging would slow down transaction times and frustrate customers trying to identify the product. It would also make stock-taking more difficult, increase mistakes made, and put retailers' personal safety at risk as they're forced to turn their backs on customers for longer periods, Mr Bull said.
Retailers also feared that sugary drinks, high fat foods and alcohol would be the next target from Government, he said.
"Given that a lot of ethnic New Zealanders are small retailers, NZACS finds it offensive that many of these taxpayers' concerns will not get a fair hearing by the Health Select Committee simply because they've written their submissions in another language," Mr Bull said.
"Parliament should ensure all submissions are fully translated to ensure every hardworking small business person has a voice in this important democratic process - such a move is long overdue. Government is only too happy to collect their tax, but alarmingly over 50 submitters on this bill will effectively have no representation."