Read articles from New Zealand

August 02, 2018 by vcu.edu

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

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

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

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

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

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.

May 23, 2018 by nzherald.co.nz

The Government will have to ban the sale of cigarettes if it wants to reach its goal of making New Zealand smoke-free by 2025, MPs have been told.

Public health advocates and academics also said the Government needs to more aggressively encourage less harmful alternatives like vaping and e-cigarettes to help people who have failed to quit smoking tobacco. [...] Hapai Te Hauora chief executive Lance Norman said there was no way the target would be reached on existing settings.

May 17, 2018 by vapingpost.com

New Zealand’s Associate Health Minister Nicky Wagner, said that despite the fact that scientific research pertaining to vaping products is still being developed, “there’s a general consensus that vaping is much less harmful than smoking”.

“The Government is taking a cautious approach by aligning the regulations around vaping with those for cigarettes. This ensures cigarette smokers have access to a lower-risk alternative while we continue to discourage people from smoking [...]

May 14, 2018 by scoop.co.nz

The Ministry of Health are making moves to regulate vapes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. This is supported by Hāpai Te Hauora who hopes that the Ministry do their best to provide effective and sustainable regulation. "Regulation is an important aspect of harm minimisation" says Hāpai CEO Lance Norman, "as it ensures products undergo robust quality testing that informs consumers of their associated health risks if any".

April 12, 2018 by theguardian.com

Smokers of e-cigarettes could be fined up to $550 if caught vaping in public spaces or on public transport across New South Wales.

The ban will come into effect in July after state parliament passed new laws on Wednesday night.

“Put simply, where you are not allowed to smoke cigarettes, you now cannot vape either,” the health minister, Brad Hazzard, said in a statement on Thursday.