Public Health: Staff

George Thomson, Senior Research Fellow

Contact details

e-mail george.thomson@otago.ac.nz, Telephone:+64 4 385 5999 ext 6054

George's research interests are in tobacco control, health policy and health politics.

His work includes researching government and business behaviour as determinants of population health, with recent research covering:

• The effects and ethics of tobacco taxation.
• Secondhand smoke in New Zealand homes and other smoking around children.
• The associates of, and the behaviour of tobacco companies in New Zealand.
• Tobacco retail displays.

This research has been funded by the Wellington Division of the Cancer Society, the Heart Foundation, and ASH NZ.

He is Principal Investigator on 'The Smokefree Project: Policy decision making for smokefree kids'. This project will explore the determinants of policies that affect the extent of smoking around children.
The focus is on the knowledge and attitudes of policymakers. It will identify ideas on how to achieve progress on smokefree homes, cars and community property.  The project is funded by the Health Research Council, and will run until late 2010.

See the tobacco control work within the Department of Public Health

George's CV (Word doc)

Links to copies of journal articles and other material are given below where possible. However for each journal article the relevant journal is located at the relevant website and we acknowledge each relevant journal as the copyright owner. Here are the links to the relevant journals that have websites.

• Lanumata T, Thomson G, Wilson N. Pacific solutions to reducing smoking around Pacific children in New Zealand: a qualitative study of Pacific policymaker views. N Z Med J. 2010;123(1308):54-63 http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1308/3945/
  
  
• Halkett L, Thomson G. Getting an outdoor smokefree policy: The case of Kapiti Coast District Council. N Z Med J. 2010; 123(1308):28-41
  
  
• Thomson G, O’Dea D, Wilson N, Edwards R. Government paralysis?: Stable tobacco prices mean preventable deaths and disease persist, along with health inequalities in New Zealand. N Z Med J. 2010;123(1308):74-80
  
  
• Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Edwards R, Thomson G, Devlin M, Gifford H. Characteristics of smoker support for increasing a dedicated tobacco tax: National survey data from New Zealand. Nicotine Tob Res 2009;(e-publication, doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntp178). http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/ntp178
  
  
• Peace J, Wilson N, Hoek J, Edwards R, Thomson G. Survey of descriptors on cigarette packs: still misleading consumers? N Z Med J 2009;122(1303);90-96
  
  
• Wilson N, Blakely T, Edwards R, Weerasekera D, Thomson G. Support by New Zealand smokers for new types of smokefree areas: National survey data. N Z Med J 2009;122(1303);80-89 http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1303/3802/content.pdf
  
  
• Hyslop B, Thomson G. Smokefree outdoor areas without the Smoke-Police: The New Zealand local authority experience. N Z Med J 2009;122(1303):67-79 (25 September) http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1303/3797/content.pdf
  
  
• Wilson N, Peace J, Judy Li, Edwards R, Hoek J, Stanley J, Thomson G. Distribution of new graphic warning labels: Are tobacco companies following regulations? Tob Induc Dis 2009, 5:14 (25 August 2009) http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.com/content/5/1/14
  
  
• Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R, Peace J. Estimating missed government tax revenue from foreign tobacco: Survey of discarded cigarette packs. Tob Control 2009;18;416-418. http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/18/5/416
  
  
• Lanumata T, Thomson G. Unequal risks, unmet needs: The tobacco burden for Pacific peoples in New Zealand. NZ Med J 2009;122(1300):39-53 (25 September) http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1303/3795/content.pdf
  
  
• Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Peace J, Edwards R, Thomson G, Devlin M. Misperceptions of "light" cigarettes abound: National survey data. BMC Public Health 2009, 9:126.
  
  
• Edwards R, Gifford H, Waa A, Glover M, Thomson G, Wilson N. Beneficial impacts of a national smokefree environments law on an indigenous population: a multifaceted evaluation. International Journal for Equity in Health 2009;8:12
  
  
• Tapp D, Thomson G. Smokefree cars in New Zealand: Rapid research among stakeholders on attitudes and future directions. NZ Med J 2009;122(1300);54-66 (25 September) http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1303/3799/content.pdf
  
  
• Walton M, Signal L, Thomson G. Household Economic Resources as a Determinant of Childhood Nutrition: policy responses for New Zealand. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand 2009; Issue 36:194-207.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N, Edwards R. At the frontier of tobacco control: A brief review of public attitudes to smokefree outdoor places. Nicotine Tob Res 2009;11: 584-590. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp046
  
  
• Thornley L, Signal L, Thomson G. Does industry regulation of food advertising protect child rights? Critical Public Health In Press.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N, Edwards R, Woodward A. Should smoking in outside public spaces be banned? Yes. BMJ 2008;337:a2806 http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/dec11_3/a2804
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N. Public attitudes to laws for smokefree private vehicles: A brief review. Tob Control published online 3 Dec 2008; doi:10.1136/tc.2008.027672 http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/rapidpdf/tc.2008.027672v1
  
  
• Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R. Use of four major tobacco control interventions in New Zealand: a review. N Z Med J 2008;121:71-86.http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1276/3122/
  
  
• Edwards R, Wilson N, Thomson G. Tobacco control in New Zealand: top marks for new smoking cessation guidelines, must try harder elsewhere. N Z Med J 2008;121:5-8. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1276/3112/
  
  
• Thomson G, Edwards R, Hoek J, Gifford H. Evidence and arguments on tobacco retail displays: Marketing an addictive drug to children? NZ Med J: 2008;121(1276);87-98
  
  
• Tay S, Thomson G. What Wellington region city councillors think of smokefree outdoor places. NZ Med J: 2008; 121(1276):15-28.
  
  
• Riddick L, Thomson G, Wilson N, Purdie G. Killing the canary: The international epidemiology of media worker homicide. J Epidemiol Community Health 2008; 62:682-8.
  
  
• Edwards R, Thomson G, Wilson W, Waa A, Bullen C, O'Dea D, Gifford H, Glover M, Laugesen M, Woodward A. After the smoke has cleared: Evaluation of the impact of a new national smokefree law in New Zealand. Tob Control: 2008;17:e2.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N, Howden-Chapman P. The use and misuse of health research by politicians during the development of a national smokefree law. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy. 2007, 4:24 http://www.anzhealthpolicy.com/content/4/1/24
  
  
• Quedley M, Ng B, Sapre N, Blakiston M, Crawford A, Devadas R, McLaren H, Anand S, Tipu M, Dayal V, Chandrasiri S, Thomson G, Edwards R. In sight, in mind: Retailer compliance with legislation on limiting retail tobacco displays. Nicotine Tob Res 2008;10:1347-54
  
  
• Thomson G, Nick Wilson, Lisa Bushell, Waseem Al Matar, Bridget Ball, Jessie Chiu, Nicola Culliford, Callum Gately, Kirsty Gibson, Jennifer Hudson, Paul Hunt, Kanishka Tangamuwa, Dylan Tapp, Hasith Wickramaratne, and Vanessa Young. Butt lengths differ by area deprivation level: A field study to explore intensive smoking. Nicotine Tob Res. 2008, 10:927 - 931.
  
  
• Wilson N, Maher A, Thomson G, Keall M. Smooth handling: The lack of safety-related consumer information in car advertisements. Inj Prev 2007 13: 304-306.
  
  
• Hudson S, Thomson G, Wilson N. A pilot qualitative study of New Zealand policymakers knowledge of, and attitudes to, the tobacco industry. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2007, 4:17
  
  
• Wilson N, Sertsou G, Edwards R, Thomson G, Grigg G, Li J. A new national smokefree law increased calls to a national quitline. BMC Public Health 2007;7:75.
  
  
• Wilson N, Thomson G, Jenkin G. More evidence for action on New Zealands obesogenic school environment and food pricing. N Z Med J 2007;120:U2397.(Editorial)
  http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/120-1248/2397/content.pdf
  
  
• Gale J, Fry B, Smith T, Okawa K, Chakrabarti A, Ah-Yen D, Yi J, Townsend S, Carroll R, Stockwell A, Sievwright A, Dew K, Thomson G. Smoking in film in New Zealand: measuring risk exposure. (PDF) BMC Public Health 2006, 6:243
  
  
• Martin J, George R, Andrews K, Barr P, Bicknell D, Insull E, Knox C, Liu J, Naqshband M, Romeril K, Wong D, Thomson G, Wilson N.  Observed smoking in cars: a method and differences by socioeconomic area (PDF) Tob Control 2006;15:409-411.
  
  
• Maher A, Wilson N, Signal L, Thomson G. Patterns of Sports Sponsorship by Gambling, Alcohol and Food Companies: An Internet Survey (PDF) BMC Public Health 2006, 6:95.
  
  
• Wilson N, Watts C, Signal L, Thomson G. Acting upstream to control the obesity epidemic in New Zealand (PDF) NZ Med J 2006, 119.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N. One year of smokefree bars and restaurants in New Zealand: Impacts and responses (PDF) BMC Public Health 2006:6:64.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N, Howden-Chapman P. Population-level policy options for increasing the prevalence of smokefree homes (PDF) J Epidemiol Community Health: 2006;60:298-304.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N. Policy lessons from comparing mortality from two global forces: international terrorism and tobacco (PDF) Globalization and Health 2005, 1:18 doi:10.1186/1744-8603-1-18
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N. Implementation failures in the use of two New Zealand laws to control the tobacco industry: 1989-2005. Aust New Zealand Health Policy 2005 2:32 doi:10.1186/1743-8462-2-32
  
  
• Wilson N, Signal L, Nicholls, S, Thomson G. Marketing fat and sugar to children on New Zealand television (PDF) Prev Med 2005;42:96-101.
  
  
• Wilson N, Thomson G. Deaths from international terrorism compared to road crash deaths in OECD countries (PDF) Inj Prev 2005;11:332-3.
  
  
• Thomson G, Signal L. Associations between universities and the tobacco industry: What institutional policies limit these associations? (PDF)Social Policy Journal of New Zealand 2005:(26):186-204.
  
  
• Thomson G, Wilson N. Directly eroding tobacco industry power as a tobacco control strategy (PDF) NZ Med J 005;118(1223):U1683.
  
  
• Wilson N, Thomson G. The epidemiology of international terrorism involving fatal outcomes in developed countries (1994-2003). Eur J Epidemiol 2005;20:375-388.
  
  
• Rethinking the regulatory framework for tobacco control in New Zealand. Thomson G, Wilson N, Crane J.NZ Med J 2005;118(1213) http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1213/Time for major roadworks on the tobacco road? N Z Med J 2004;117:U801. Crane J, Blakely T, Hill S.
  
  
• The Decline of Smoking in British Portraiture. Tob Control 2004;13:3-5. Wilson N, Thomson G.
  
  
• Lost in the Smoke: Tobacco control in New Zealand during the 1990s. N Z Med J 2000;113:122-4. Thomson G, Wilson N.
  
  
• Tobacco control in New Zealand - not so comprehensive? Tobacco Control, 9 August 2000. Thomson G, Wilson N.
  
  
• Tobacco Control in New Zealand, from 1945 to 1961. N Z Med J 1999;112:101-3. Thomson G, Wilson N.
  
  
• Children and tobacco imagery on New Zealand television. N Z Med J 1998;111:129-130. Thomson G, Wilson N.

Letters

Thomson G, Wilson N, Edwards R. Kiwi support for the end of tobacco sales: New Zealand governments lag behind public support for advanced tobacco control policies. N Z Med J. 2010;123(1308):106-111. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1308/3949/

Edwards R, Wilson N, Thomson G, Weerasekera D, Blakely T. Majority support by M?ori and non-M?ori smokers for many aspects of increased tobacco control regulation: national survey data. N Z Med J 2009;122(1307):115-118. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1307/3931/content.pdf

Wilson N, Thomson G, Weerasekera D, et al. Smoker misperceptions around tobacco: national survey data of particular relevance to protecting Maori health. N Z Med J. 2009;122(1306):123-127. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1306/3897/

Wilson N, Young D, Weerasekera D, Edwards R, Thomson G, Glover M. The importance of tobacco prices to roll-your-own (RYO) smokers (national survey data): higher tax needed on RYO. N Z Med J 2009;122(1305):92-96. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1305/3864/content.pdf

Thomson G, Weerasekera D, Wilson N. New Zealand smokers’ attitudes to smokefree cars containing preschool children: very high support across all sociodemographic groups. N Z Med J 2009;122 (1300):84-86 http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1300/3739/content.pdf

Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R. What’s new in tobacco tax research for New Zealand and is it time for a tax hike now? N Z Med J 2009;122(1293):89-92. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1293/3574/content.pdf

Thomson G, Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Edwards R. Most smokers support smokefree council-owned playgrounds: national survey data. N Z Med J 2009;122(1291):12-3.

Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R, Weerasekera D, Laugesen M. Most New Zealand smokers support having fire-safe cigarettes: National survey data. N Z Med J 2008;121(1286):134-135. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/121-1286/3394/

Thomson G, Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Edwards R. Ninety-six percent of New Zealand smokers support smokefree cars containing preschool children. NZMJ 2008:121(1285):139-4

Thomson G, Wilson N, Hoek J. A call to reduce harm from tobacco pack marketing and bolster consumer health protection in New Zealand. N Z Med J 2008;121(1284):99-101

Stevenson A-M, Bradshaw R, Cook J, Cunningham R, Riddick L, Miller R, Edwards R, Wilson N, Thomson G. Majority of smokers and non-smokers in favour of smokefree parks. N Z Med J 2008;121(1274):108-110.

Wilson N, Thomson G. Talking health, doing harm: New Zealand Government investment in industries that kill. N Z Med J 2007;120:U2452.

Wilson N, Peace J, Thomson G, Edwards R. The prevalence of misleading tobacco descriptors in the New Zealand tobacco market. N Z Med J 2007;120:U2497.

Wilson N, Thomson G. Increase in violent deaths of Iraqi journalists since the 2003 invasion. Med Confl Surviv 2007;23:145–146.

Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R. Lessons from Hong Kong and other countries for outdoor smokefree areas in New Zealand? N Z Med J 2007;120:U2624.

Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards, R. Should New Zealands Commerce Commission act on cigarette brand name deception?
N Z Med J 2006;119:U2295.

Wilson N, Thomson G, Howden-Chapman P, Signal L. Regulations should ban the sale of cigarette pack covers of health warnings. N Z Med J 2006;119:U2251.

Hudson S, Thomson G, Wilson N. Policymakers' ignorance of New Zealand government investment in tobacco companies. NZ Med J 2006;119:U2269.

Thomson G. Tobacco industry fears of the World Conference of Tobacco or Health. NZ Med J 2006; 119:U1921.
http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/119-1231/1921/

Thomson G, Wilson N. Screening for Ministerial appointments? Systems failure in Peter Dunnes appointment as a New Zealand Revenue and Associate Health Minister. N Z Med J 2005;118:U1765.
http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1226/1765/content.pdf

Wilson N, Thomson G. Politicians and tobacco control in New Zealand: a brief three-year audit. N Z Med J. 2005;118(1221):U1645.

Wilson N, Thomson G, Grigg M, Afzal R. New smoke-free environments legislation stimulates calls to a national Quitline. Tob Control 2005;14:287-288.

Wilson N, Thomson G, Crampton P, Rochford T. The New Zealand Government's 2005 Budget: missed opportunities for significant public health progress. N Z Med J. 2005;118(1216):1511.

Thomson G, Wilson N. Spending decisions for tobacco-related disease treatment and tobacco control: an example and a solution. N Z Med J. 2005;118(1210): U1337.

Reports

Thomson G. Trust us, we're socially responsible: The truth behind
British American Tobacco NZs Corporate Social Responsibility reports. (PDF) Auckland: ASH New Zealand, 2005.

Richard Edwards, Chris Bullen, Des ODea, Heather Gifford, Marewa Glover, Murray Laugesen, George Thomson, Anaru Waa, Nick Wilson, Alistair Woodward. After the Smoke has Cleared: Evaluation of the Impact of a New Smokefree Law: Report Commissioned by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Wellington: Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, November 2006.

Submissions

Submission on the Ministry of Health consultation document: (on tobacco regulations). September 2004. Thomson G, Wilson N, Crane J, Blakely T, Crampton P.

Other publications

Wilson N, Thomson G. USA: injuries in the smoking room when a nuclear sub crashes. Tob Control 2005; 14: 221

Thomson G. New Zealand: return of tobacco man.(PDF) Tob Control 2005; 14: 149

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