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 03, 2025 by rnz.co.nz
Health select committee erupts into heated debate over roll out of oral tobacco and nicotine products
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello faced criticism over government plans to introduce oral tobacco and nicotine products, amidst concerns of big tobacco influence. Costello emphasized the importance of achieving Smokefree 2025 goals, focusing on harm reduction strategies like e-cigarettes. Labour's Dr. Ayesha Verrall questioned the introduction of new nicotine forms, raising concerns about youth addiction. Costello highlighted the need for regulatory control and options for older smokers struggling to quit. ACT's Cameron Luxton highlighted issues in Australia's tobacco regulations. Public health expert Dr. Jude Ball cautioned against introducing more addictive products, citing marketing to youth by tobacco companies. Legislation to reduce nicotine in cigarettes was discussed as a potential solution.
December 02, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu
Youth vaping halves in New Zealand
Youth vaping in New Zealand has drastically decreased, halving in two years. The ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey found that regular use among 14 to 15-year-olds dropped significantly, attributed to targeted regulations instead of bans. While daily vaping fell, smoking among teens is nearly eliminated. NZ's harm-reduction strategy focuses on curtailing youth access while aiding smokers to quit. Despite progress, Māori youth vaping rates are high, requiring specific support. This success model is being watched globally, with policymakers interested in New Zealand's approach of reducing harm without prohibiting alternatives.
December 01, 2025 by scoop.co.nz
FCTC Principles Abandoned For Ideology
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) condemns the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat for permitting Bloomberg-funded prohibitionist NGOs to dictate policy narratives at COP11, directly contradicting the treaty's foundational principles. The "Dirty Ashtray Award" presented to New Zealand exposes a fundamental corruption of the FCTC process. The Secretariat has allowed ideologically-driven NGOs to write unaccountable rules, then shame countries refusing compliance with a prohibitionist script disconnected from real-world health outcomes. This has nothing to do with saving lives. It is about control.
November 28, 2025 by rnz.co.nz
Why New Zealand failed to reach its Smokefree 2025 target
New Zealand is struggling to meet its Smokefree 2025 target as smoking rates decline unevenly among different demographics. Despite progress, deep inequities persist, particularly affecting Māori and Pasifika populations. Political changes and the repeal of key tobacco control measures have hindered achieving the goal. Experts suggest shifting the aim to Smokefree 2030 and expanding regulations to include nicotine-free products. However, government policies are not keeping pace with new, addictive tobacco industry products targeting youth. Maintaining the focus on reducing smoking rates, reinstating scrapped measures, and implementing stricter regulations are crucial steps towards a smoke-free future.
November 19, 2025 by rnz.co.nz
New Zealand receives 'Dirty Ashtray' award for poor progress in tobacco control
New Zealand received the 'Dirty Ashtray' award at a tobacco control meeting, criticized for reversing reforms, high vaping rates among youth, and industry interference. Once a leader, NZ now faces international shame and fell to 53rd on the Tobacco Industry Interference Index. Experts warn that repealing tobacco control measures could hinder smoking prevalence reduction.
November 19, 2025 by clearingtheair.eu
COP 11: The “dirty ashtray” award goes to…New Zealand?
New Zealand, known for low smoking rates and high cigarette taxes, received the "dirty ashtray" award from the GATC for ineffective tobacco control policies, despite just 6.8% smoking prevalence. Mexico was recognized positively for anti-tobacco industry stands. New Zealand's adoption of harm reduction, like vaping, has reduced youth vaping rates and smoking prevalence. The country's success in decreasing smoking challenges the WHO's stance against harm reduction. The GATC's criticism of New Zealand's tobacco control contrasts with the country's significant progress in reducing smoking rates. Globally, New Zealand and Sweden stand out for successful harm reduction strategies in tobacco control.
October 10, 2025 by nzherald.co.nz
Health NZ seeking to give more vaping kits to smokers wanting to quit, talks up PR benefits to suppliers
Health NZ's pilot programme provided vapes to 29 smoking cessation programs. Approximately 33% of 4326 individuals who quit smoking in seven months used the vaping kits. Health NZ is seeking quotes for more vapes to potentially continue the program permanently, depending on results. Vapes with various nicotine strengths and flavors are being requested. The pilot's success has prompted confidence in the continuation of supplying vapes. However, concerns have been raised by medical professionals and organizations regarding the approach of using vapes as a smoking cessation tool due to limited evidence supporting its efficacy and potential risks.
September 11, 2025 by rnz.co.nz
Regulation Minister David Seymour won't rule out label changes for nicotine, tobacco, alcohol
Changes to warning labels for tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol are under review by David Seymour's Ministry for Regulation. Public health groups expressed concerns, but Seymour indicated no plans to exclude these products. He mentioned the potential for altering label designs, citing an example of the color red used for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder warnings. Seymour acknowledged cost implications for businesses complying with label requirements. Health advocates stressed the importance of existing warning labels, especially for tobacco and nicotine products. The Ministry is gathering industry feedback through surveys. Concerns were raised about potentially reducing the effectiveness of warning labels on harmful products.
September 03, 2025 by citynews.com.au
Seriously, it’s time to sort out cigarettes and vapes
The black market for cigarettes, tobacco, and vapes in Australia is growing and leading to violence. Despite high cigarette prices, illegal supplies are popular, with a significant black market presence. Vaping restrictions have not been successful, prompting increased vaping black market activities. The high cigarette excise has unintended negative consequences, with estimates of a $10 billion annual revenue loss for the government. New Zealand's successful approach to promoting safer nicotine options over cigarettes highlights Australia's failure in tobacco and vaping policies. Suggestions include reducing cigarette excise and increasing availability of safer nicotine products. The tobacco industry is shifting towards smoke-free products, which are becoming more profitable. Australia should consider following NZ's lead in tobacco harm reduction policies to combat the black market.
August 28, 2025 by medicalxpress.com
Designed to deceive: A call for urgent action on vape device design
Urgent regulatory action on vaping, particularly targeting device designs, is advised by Dr. Robin Quigg of University of Otago due to her research showing vaping's normalization among young Māori. The discreetness of devices encourages use in public places, driven by nicotine addiction. Quigg recommends stricter regulations, such as larger device sizes, therapeutic designs, and less appealing flavors. While these measures may help, additional steps are needed to reduce vaping's allure to young individuals, beyond device regulation according to the study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.