Finland plans to completely abolish smoking, starting with a ban on displaying tobacco products and smoking in cars carrying minors.

Finnish State Secretary Ilkka Oksala said the new laws were the start of a move to get rid of tobacco “once and for all."

Although several European countries now ban smoking in public buildings, including restaurants and pubs, Finland would be the first country to adopt a total ban.

New Zealand’s Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) director Ben Youdan said the same approach was needed here.

From the middle of next year Finland will become the first country in the world to incorporate access to broadband into its legislation as a basic human right.

From July next year, every person in Finland will have the right to have access to 1MG broadband connection. The Finnish government is already planning to make access to 100MG broadband a legal requirement by the end of 2015.