Five policies to get Aotearoa back on the smokefree track
September 15, 2026 by newsroom.co.nz
Five policies to get Aotearoa back on the smokefree track
Aotearoa’s smokefree goal needs policy that matches both ambition and real behaviour. Lower smoking rates will not be secured through slogans alone; they require targeted support, credible enforcement, attention to inequities and realistic alternatives for adults who still smoke. Vaping and other lower-risk options should be assessed by their role in reducing combustion, not by whether they fit an abstinence-only model. Getting back on track means focusing on outcomes: fewer cigarettes, fewer deaths and fewer communities left behind.
