Smoking in New Zealand
In New Zealand, smoking is legal but subject to tobacco control regulations. Cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products and can be sold through retail outlets, including online sales and vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a trade license. Health warnings on packaging are mandatory, the legal minimum age for purchase is 18 years, and smoking in public places is subject to legal restrictions. A comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising is also in place. Cigarettes in New Zealand are taxed at a total rate of 82.78%, including an excise component of 69.74%. Data show that in 2024, the number of current smokers was recorded to be approximately 364,000 in New Zealand, corresponding to an adult smoking prevalence of 8.6%. In the same year, current smoking prevalence was slightly higher among males (9.7%) than among females (7.7%). In 2022, this prevalence was recorded to be 11.4%. In 2023, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was reported to be 7.7%, with approximately 362,845 daily smokers. In 2021, smoking led to approximately 3,580 deaths in New Zealand, including 2,085 deaths among males and 1,495 deaths among females. In other words, tobacco smoking accounted for 10.38% of all deaths in the country in 2021, including11.78% of all male deaths and 8.9% of all female deaths.
Read articles from New Zealand
December 14, 2018 by nzherald.co.nz
17,000 more Kiwis need to quit smoking each year to hit Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 target
Another 17,200 New Zealanders need to quit smoking each year until 2025 if we are to reach the goal of less than 5 per cent of the population smoking daily by then, a new study has found. The research, headed up by Professor Nick Wilson of the department of public health at Otago University's Wellington campus, found the country was set to fall far short of the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal if the current trend continues.
December 12, 2018 by tvnz.co.nz
Government has moved too slowly to regulate e-cigarettes, lead respiratory doc warns
Dr Stuart Jones says “the horse has bolted” because parents believe it’s safe – when it isn’t.
November 23, 2018 by theaustralian.com.au
New Zealand moves to tighten vaping laws
New Zealand lawmakers have announced strict new vaping rules that would see e-cigarettes treated more like tobacco products.
The country's government has proposed legal changes that would see vaping devices and smokeless tobacco products join cigarettes in being banned from bars, restaurants and workplaces, as well introducing restrictions on how they can be displayed in stores. [...] Health Minister Jenny Salesa said the introduction of new safety standards would also give assurance to those trying to quit smoking using the devices [...]
September 24, 2018 by scoop.co.nz
Increased Tobacco Tax Not The Only Option
Hāpai Te Hauora agree with calls to reprioritise tobacco tax funds made in the recently released 'Future of Tax' interim report from the Tax Working Group. The group has called for the government to prioritise other measures with respect to smoking cessation. These include more educational campaigns and reinvestment of funds into initiatives which support people to stop smoking.
August 02, 2018 by vcu.edu
New Zealand officials tap VCU professor’s expertise to learn about potential vaping hazards
E-cigarettes essentially were banned in New Zealand until this summer when the Ministry of Health opted not to appeal a court ruling that found most tobacco products could be legally sold under the country’s Smoke-free Environments Act.
“They’re trying to get their arms around tobacco products to promote a healthier citizenry,” Peace said. “They have a goal of being tobacco-free by 2025.”
To reduce smoking, the country has raised taxes dramatically on cigarettes, Peace said. [...]
July 26, 2018 by scoop.co.nz
Health group left disappointed at confusing advocacy
Largest Maori Public Health group left disappointed at confusing advocacy
Hāpai Te Hauora is calling for sensibility and improved focus on smoked tobacco cigarettes given its devastating history and continued harm on Māori health.
Last week the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ spoke to Māori media using the ASH Year 10 Study that shows an increase in rangatahi (youth) experimenting with vaping devices from 20% in 2014 to 28% in 2016. [...]
June 22, 2018 by scoop.co.nz
Smokefree 2025: An opportunity for big scores by the Govt
A group of tobacco control experts published an open letter this week in the New Zealand Medical Journal calling for bold new actions from the New Zealand Government to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal.
The group, which included health and tobacco experts from the Cancer Society and the University of Otago, Wellington, is calling for the vision of the 2010 Māori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry on the tobacco industry to be revived. That vision included a reduction of tobacco retail outlets, [...]
June 07, 2018 by odt.co.nz
Smart tech used in varsity quit smoking study
University of Otago-led research shows smart technology can shed new light on the challenges faced by smokers trying to quit by using e-cigarettes.
The research trialled the use of ''smart'' technology, including smart e-cigarettes and smartphones, among 11 Dunedin smokers last year. Research fellow Mei-Ling Blank, of the Otago marketing department, said it was ''very satisfying'' to test the smart technology, to see if mounting a much bigger vaping study in future was feasible.
June 05, 2018 by scoop.co.nz
ESR visitor warns of vaping concerns
A visiting US scientist, Michelle Peace, is warning of the potential hazards of vaping.
Michelle Peace, who is in New Zealand as the International Vision Fellow of the Institute of Environmental Science Research (ESR), says a whole culture has grown up around the use of e-cigarettes, which many people regard as being safer than tobacco. But Dr Peace says while e-cigarettes may be “healthier” than normal cigarettes, that doesn’t mean they are “healthy”.
May 29, 2018 by nzherald.co.nz
Anti-smoking campaigner and health advisor throws weight behind vaping
A leading GP and anti-smoking campaigner in Whanganui is now actively promoting vaping as an option for people trying to quit smoking. [...] Previously there wasn't enough information about vaping and the devices were not legal, he said.
"As a result of a recent court ruling, the sale of vaping devices and nicotine liquid is now legal in New Zealand," McMeniman said, and he was now promoting vaping as a means to quitting cigarettes.