Read articles from Oceania

February 04, 2026 by waateanews.com

Medsafe approved Aotearoa's first medically endorsed quit-vaping product, recognizing vaping addiction as a health issue. The product targets high-frequency nicotine exposure associated with vaping and facilitates controlled nicotine reduction. The Foundation highlights accessibility concerns, urging wider availability and affordability, especially for youth. They emphasize the product as part of a holistic approach to public health, underscoring the need for education, regulation, and prevention.

February 03, 2026 by mja.com.au

Vaping has shown promise as a smoking cessation aid, especially for individuals with socio-economic hardships. A clinical trial in Australia compared vaping with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation among low-SES individuals. Results showed participants using vaping devices were three times more likely to achieve continuous abstinence compared to NRT. Vaping was also associated with fewer adverse events. Challenges include long-term vaping risks and limited access to authorized vapes in pharmacies. While vaping can assist in quitting smoking, it is not a guaranteed solution, and relapses are common. Australia's strict regulations aim to tackle illicit vaping and smoking markets. Ongoing research and support are needed to maximize the potential of vaping as a smoking cessation tool.

February 02, 2026 by bloomberg.com

The chain-smoking protagonist of Mad Men should be far removed from the life of a modern young Australian — particularly when it comes to tobacco. Australia has been a global leader in anti-smoking policy. Cigarettes there are among the most expensive in the world and are sold in plain packaging plastered with graphic health warnings. Yet just as authorities believed they were winning the battle against smoking, experts say the country is facing a new tobacco crisis. While overall smoking rates continue to fall, research shows progress in reducing teen smoking has slowed — likely due to vaping, which researchers say can act as a gateway to cigarettes.

January 29, 2026 by filtermag.org

Youth vaping is used to oppose adult access to nicotine vapes, though the issue is often exaggerated. New Zealand has successfully reduced youth vaping rates by implementing strict regulations without hindering harm reduction. The country's approach includes penalties for selling to minors and limiting marketing tactics. New Zealand's success in reducing smoking and youth vaping challenges misinformation and fear-mongering. In contrast, Australia's stringent vape restrictions have not yielded the same public health benefits. While New Zealand has made significant progress, challenges remain, especially among indigenous Māori youth.

January 19, 2026 by scoop.co.nz

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) delivered a clear message to the Australian Senate: Australia’s illegal tobacco crisis is the result of failed policy, not weak enforcement, and no amount of additional resources will fix a problem created by prohibition. In its submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s inquiry into the illegal tobacco market, CAPHRA warned that organised crime has taken control of a black market worth around A$4 billion. This market has been driven by policies that removed legal access to safer nicotine products while consumer demand remained unchanged.

January 19, 2026 by health.gov.au

The ‘Give Up For Good’ campaign is helping Australians live healthier, nicotine-free lives by empowering them to quit smoking and vaping for good - or to never start. Designed to help protect people of all ages from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction, this new phase of the campaign responds to recent research showing most Australians who smoke or vape are open to, or trying to quit, and are seeking information to help them take the next step.

January 19, 2026 by health.gov.au

The ‘Give Up For Good’ campaign is helping Australians live healthier, nicotine-free lives by empowering them to quit smoking and vaping for good - or to never start. Designed to help protect people of all ages from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction, this new phase of the campaign responds to recent research showing most Australians who smoke or vape are open to, or trying to quit, and are seeking information to help them take the next step.

January 19, 2026 by health.gov.au

The ‘Give Up For Good’ campaign is helping Australians live healthier, nicotine-free lives by empowering them to quit smoking and vaping for good - or to never start. Designed to help protect people of all ages from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction, this new phase of the campaign responds to recent research showing most Australians who smoke or vape are open to, or trying to quit, and are seeking information to help them take the next step.

January 19, 2026 by health.gov.au

The ‘Give Up For Good’ campaign is helping Australians live healthier, nicotine-free lives by empowering them to quit smoking and vaping for good - or to never start. Designed to help protect people of all ages from the harms of tobacco and nicotine addiction, this new phase of the campaign responds to recent research showing most Australians who smoke or vape are open to, or trying to quit, and are seeking information to help them take the next step.

January 13, 2026 by abc.net.au

A leading public health expert expressed puzzlement over why Western Australia has fallen behind other states in modernizing its illicit tobacco laws. The expert highlighted the clear rise of illegal tobacco outlets in Perth and regional areas, which has increased pressure on authorities to respond. Research has shown that this trade is closely connected to organized crime networks across the country. While other states have implemented stronger, updated legislation to tackle the issue, in WA the responsibility falls on the Health Department to inspect and sanction shops under the Tobacco Control Act 2006. This approach has left the state lagging in enforcement compared with the rest of the nation.