Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in New Zealand

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New Zealand Background

8.3% of the adult population are current smokers

There are approximately 444,279 current smokers in New Zealand

Country profile

Data sourced: 2024. Page updated: 2025-03-04

Smoking in New Zealand

In New Zealand there has been a continued decline in current smoking prevalence in the past two decades. Smoking prevalence declined from 20.1% in 2006/07 to 15.7% in 2016/2017, with a further drop to 10.9% in 2021. For men, current smoking prevalence has reduced steadily over this period, from 21% in 2006/7 to 17% in 2016/17, and down further to 14.1% in 2020. For women, current smoking prevalence has decreased from 19% in 2006/7 to 14% in 2016/17, declining further to 11.3% in 2020.

3,580

Deaths

3580 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in New Zealand.

12.7 million €

Market size of NRT.

NRT market size is estimated to be 12.7 million €.

Details & datasheet on smoking in New Zealand

Nicotine Vaping Devices

in New Zealand

The sale of nicotine containing e-liquids was banned until May 2018, but these laws were rarely enforced. A court decision on 9th May 2018 made any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, legal to import, buy & sell - subject to tobacco rules. The court case Philip Morris v Ministry of Health found all tobacco products - except chewing and dissolving types - could be lawfully sold under the Smoke-free Environments Act (1990). The ban on smoking in indoor workplaces, early childhood centres and schools currently only applies to smoking, however individual organisations can ban the use of e-cigarettes as part of their own smoke-free policies. A proposal by the Ministry of Health has been made that states that vaping, and the use of other smokeless tobacco products, will be prohibited in vehicles when children are present. This will be achieved through the Smoke-free Environments (Vaping) Amendment Bill, which will progress through Parliament later in 2019. The Bill will propose to prohibit vaping and the use of smokeless tobacco products in all legislated smoke-free areas. E-cigarettes cannot be sold to minors under 18, and must comply with rules on health information and warnings. There are restrictions on sales via vending machines, and packaging must comply with rules on packaging for tobacco products. There are also restrictions on advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The Ministry of Health now plans to consider how best to apply risk-proportionate regulation to all tobacco and vaping products.

Details & datasheet on vaping in New Zealand

Heated Tobacco Products

in New Zealand

In 2018, a New Zealand District Court decision permitted the sale of heated tobacco products under the 1990 Smoke-free Environments Act. The case was Philip Morris International (the makers of IQOS) vs. New Zealand's Ministry of Health. The law regulating heated tobacco products states they should not be sold or advertised to minors (under 18 years). The New Zealand Ministry of Health has stated that it plans to develop a risk-proportionate regulatory framework for products covered by the 1990 Smoke-free Environments Act, which includes heated tobacco products.

Details & datasheet on HTP in New Zealand

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

in New Zealand

Estimated NRT market size is 12.7 million €.

Details & datasheet on NRT in New Zealand

Snus

in New Zealand

Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Find out what it is, and why it is considered a safer nicotine product in our briefing paper.

Details & datasheet on snus in New Zealand

Pouches

in New Zealand

Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Read more about nicotine pouches in our briefing paper

Details & datasheet on pouches in New Zealand

Top Stories from New Zealand

March 21, 2025 by theconversation.com

Story

The tobacco lobby claims vaping is displacing youth smoking – a close look at the evidence tells another story

E-cigarette companies like British American Tobacco lobbied to loosen vape regulations in NZ and …

Regions: Oceania Australia New Zealand

March 05, 2025 by gfn.tv

Story

GFN News #140 | NEW ZEALAND'S ASTOUNDING THR SUCCESS | Featuring Will Godfrey

New Zealand's acceptance of safer nicotine products has spearheaded an unprecedented drop in smoking …

Regions: Oceania Australia New Zealand

February 17, 2025 by theconversation.com

Story

We asked young people if they wanted tighter vaping regulation to phase out nicotine – here’s what they said

The smokefree generation law in New Zealand aimed to end tobacco sales to those …

Regions: Oceania New Zealand

February 14, 2025 by medicalxpress.com

Story

Less-restrictive vaping laws linked to faster smoking decline

Two professionals' study in the Addiction journal compared smoking rates in Australia and New Zealand, finding faster declines in New Zealand. They attribute this to New Zealand's less restrictive vaping regulations. The research suggests that increasing access to nicotine vaping products could benefit public health and reduce smoking rates, especially among disadvantaged populations. The restrictive vaping model in Australia …

Regions: Oceania Australia New Zealand

Do the differing vaping and smoking trends in Australia and New Zealand reflect different regulatory policies?

February 10, 2025 by wiley.com

February 11, 2025 by filtermag.org

Story

Our Study Spotlights How Vaping Can Reduce Health Disparities

A study published in the Addiction journal indicates that nicotine vaping can help reduce …

Regions: Oceania Australia New Zealand

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The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.

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