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Newsroom
21-06-2025
- Health
- Newsroom
Seymour's ‘light up' message alarms tobacco researchers
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour's comments to a London audience calling smokers 'fiscal heroes' – and declaring people should 'light up' to save their government's balance sheet – are reprehensible and make light of addiction, tobacco researchers say. Seymour largely stands by his remarks, arguing smokers are a net economic positive through tobacco tax and reduced superannuation from early deaths – but has conceded he was wrong to describe as 'quite evil' the Labour government's plan to create a smokefree generation. Early in its term, the coalition Government sparked controversy by repealing a law that would have banned the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 1, 2009 and dramatically reduced both the number of outlets able to sell tobacco and the nicotine levels in cigarettes. Seymour spoke about the decision following a speech to the Adam Smith Institute, a neoliberal think tank based in London, during a visit to the UK this month. Asked about the smokefree generation concept, which has been taken up by the British government, Seymour said the New Zealand policy had been 'quite evil, in a way' and described smokers as 'fiscal heroes'. 'If you want to save your country's balance sheet, light up, because … lots of excise tax, no pension – I mean, you're a hero,' he said to laughter from the audience. Seymour told Newsroom his remarks were based on arguments he made before about the role of the Government when it came to smoking. 'I'm not seriously suggesting that we should encourage people to smoke to save the Government money. It's clearly an absurd statement, but you do have to have a bit of a sense of humour in this life, otherwise it would be too dull.' The state should make sure the public was aware of the dangers of smoking, while stopping smokers from doing harm to others (such as through second-hand smoke) and ensuring they did not impose financial costs on others. 'As far as I can tell, that condition is well and truly satisfied: I mean, the Government gets $2 billion of tax revenue from about, what is it now, 8 percent of the population?' (The Customs Service collected $1.5b in tobacco excise and equivalent duties in 2023/24, while that year's NZ Health Survey reported a daily smoking rate of 6.9 percent.) Seymour said it was 'just a sad fact' that smokers were also likely to die younger, reducing the amount of superannuation they collected, while he was unconvinced their healthcare costs would be markedly higher than those who died of other illnesses. 'If anything, smokers are probably saving other citizens money.' However, he backtracked on his suggestion the last Government's smokefree generation plans were 'quite evil', saying: 'I'm not sure that was the right word, on reflection. 'I certainly think the idea that, in 30 years' time, someone's going to have to prove that they're 49 rather than 47 does seem draconian – it seems almost a bit of an Orwellian situation.' While the Adam Smith Institute's event page billed Seymour as the Deputy Prime Minister, he said his speech was delivered in a private capacity rather than on behalf of the Government, while he had not used taxpayer money for his travel (he also confirmed the Institute did not cover any of his costs). Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says the last Labour government's smokefree policy was fundamentally based on humanitarian grounds. Photo: Marc Daalder Labour Party health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall told Newsroom the minister's remarks showed the Government had the wrong priorities when it came to its smokefree policy. 'They are prioritising balancing the books on the misery done to smokers due to the harms of tobacco.' Verrall said there was clear evidence of tobacco's cost to the health system, and the last government's smokefree generation policy had been 'fundamentally based on humanitarian grounds'. 'This is an addictive product: it is unique in that it kills half the people who use it. It's not like the more nuanced debates we have about … social media for kids.' University of Otago associate professor Andrew Waa told Newsroom Seymour's 'perverse' arguments were further evidence of the Government placing tobacco tax revenue over other concerns. 'It's literally blood money: it's money that the Government taxes on a deadly product, and yet they're still treating it as a profit margin for them.' Waa said the minister's comments ignored the social costs of tobacco, and would only help an industry 'intent on exploiting addiction at whatever cost'. 'I don't know if it's naive, or if it's [his] ideology that it's all personal choice – there's no choice when it comes to smoking some of these things. 'There's a reason why certain communities are more likely to smoke, because they get tobacco products shoved in their face all the time; by the time they decide to think that they don't wanna use the stuff, it's too late.' Janet Hoek, the co-director of tobacco control research partnership ASPIRE Aotearoa, told Newsroom that the comments were 'really ridiculous and reprehensible'. 'It just seems incredibly disappointing that Mr Seymour apparently thinks it's amusing to suggest that addiction, and early and often painful death, are a good way to generate government revenue.' Hoek said the environmental and productivity costs associated with smoking also needed to be taken into account, as did the social harm done to communities when their loved ones died prematurely. While some politicians dismissed public health experts as 'muppets … living in ivory towers', the suggestion that smokers were making an informed choice was itself out of touch with reality.
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
'The inequities aren't closing' - Māori still a long way from Smokefree 2025 goal
Māori daily smoking rates are double the national at 14.7 percent - although that had declined from 30.4 percent over the past five years. File photo. Photo: Unsplash / fotografierende The Smokefree 2025 goal is only months away, but Māori smokefree advocates are concerned that Māori smoking rates have remained more than double that of the general population. The advocates say a 'business as usual' approach from the government - which shifts the responsibility to quit smoking onto individuals - is not going to get the country there. The annual New Zealand Health Survey showed that in 2023/24 about 300,000 adults - 6.9 percent - were daily smokers. The aim of the Smokefree 2025 is to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December. That is already a tough ask, but for Māori daily smoking rates were two times higher at 14.7 percent - although that had declined from 30.4 percent over the past five years. Anaru Waa, the interim chair of Te Roopu Tupeka Kore, the Māori Tobacco Control network, said Māori smoking rates were still trending down. But he was worried they will plateau, with the latest Health Survey suggesting this is happening across the board . "I'm not optimistic, I think we're no closer than we were a few years ago, I'm hugely concerned about how the reductions in smoking have seemed to have stopped... and I'm hugely concerned about the vaping," he said. Waa said the country was not on track to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal. The goal was to get everybody below the 5 percent mark - not some people ahead of everyone else, he said. "The trends are going in the wrong direction and... the inequities aren't closing like we wanted." Shane Bradbrook Photo: RNZ / Pokere Paewai Longtime tobacco control campaigner Shane Bradbrook said Māori people were not to blame - it was the tobacco industry's fault. "The industry is back in alignment again politically, so it sets the kaupapa back, but I think we still have that energy and passion to make sure that we reach a goal of being tupeka kore (smokefree)." Bradbrook - along with then-Māori Party MPs Hone Harawira and Tariana Turia - led the charge towards the Smokefree 2025 goal at the 2010 Māori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry. Following the inquiry in 2011, the government agreed to the goal for New Zealand to be smokefree by 2025. Other countries are currently adopting the same measures and policies that Māori wanted and thought they had already won, Bradbrook said. "Absolutely we are going backwards, I mean it's 2025. We led the fight to the Māori Affairs Select Committee, we got the report done, we got the recommendations sorted, but largely its been undone by successive governments that have terrible in terms of continuing on that policy legacy for our people," he said. Waa said the goal of tupeka kore (smokefree) led by Turia and Harawira shifted away from what he described as the 'business as usual' approach to tobacco control which had operated previously, which had only perpetuated inequities in smoking rates. This shifted the problem from one of individuals to a societal one, which required structural change to address, he said. That was what the legislation brought in by the last Labour government was aimed at, he said. "It was a game changer, it wasn't business as usual, it was making tobacco non-addictive, it was hugely reducing its access and creating a smokefree generation, that's totally different to what we've had. "So we would have got our goal maybe not this year, but certainly next year, but this government saw otherwise and repealed it, now we're back to square one, in fact we're still fighting that plus the vaping epidemic." Waa said vaping had not done much to reduce smoking rates among rangatahi (young people), in fact he said the majority of rangatahi who vape now have never smoked cigarettes. "I really resist that idea that people take up vapes because they would have otherwise smoked, I think that's wrong they would have quit anyway and it's called a false base rate fallacy. Vapes themselves have been around since 2010, but we've really seen their impacts since 2015 and particularly since 2018." About 480,000 adults (11.1 percent) were daily vapers in 2023/24, up slightly from 9.7 percent the previous year. The highest daily vaping rates were in Māori (28.8 percent), Pacific peoples (21.5 percent), and young people aged 18-24 years (26.5 percent). Waa said while he was pessimistic about Smokefree 2025, he remained very optimistic about Māori and the fact that there were still people out in the communities and willing to do the work which had carried Māori tobacco control through all these years. Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon said the challenge was now on her and her colleagues in Parliament to decide on the next legislative steps to take on tobacco. "I'm a mother of the Smokefree generation lost and thinking of my baby born in 2009. I was excited for what the future might bring, but with the repeal of the legislation I was gutted." Lyndon said she was looking forward to the discussion around what Smokefree 2026 2.0 could be. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said the number of Māori smokers and Māori smoking rates have decreased dramatically in the past few years. "Historically, Māori smoking rates were very high and the gains are from that higher starting point, but in the last five years, for example, 95,000 Māori have stopped smoking and the smoking rate has dropped by 52 percent." Māori and wahine Māori in particular have benefited from using vapes, which are a much safer product, to stop smoking, she said. "Clearly, we want to do more - the government is committed to the Smokefree targets and has an action plan in place that among other things, specifically targets those populations where there are higher smoking rates. Our stop smoking providers are also very attuned to working with Māori and what approaches work for getting Māori whanau and communities to think about quitting. I'm meeting with providers again next week to talk through these issues. "There's a misconception about what our problem is, however - most smokers are older and have been smoking for some time, so they need help to quit and that's what we're focused on. "When the Health Survey, which is what we use to measure smoking rates, started in 2012 there were 119,000 young - as in 18- to 24-year-old - smokers. Last year there were 19,000. For under 18s, the smoking rate is 0.6 percent - that's hugely different from when I was a teenager. Our young people aren't smoking and don't want to smoke and that's great news." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
16-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Disposable Vape Ban And Strict Advertising Rules Begin - What You Need To Know
Nik Dirga, Digital Explainer Editor Explainer - Disposable vape fans will see their habit go up in smoke from Tuesday, as tough new vape rules kick in. Here's what you need to know about changes to vape sales and advertising. What's being banned? The distribution, manufacture, sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned from Tuesday. "We are getting rid of vapes that are most popular among young people, and that can only be positive," Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said in announcing the changes last year. The 2023/24 NZ Health Survey found 10.5 percent of people aged 15 to 17 vaped daily. However, pod-style vaping devices will still be sold. They contain pre-filled pods which are swapped out to refill the vape. Also as of Tuesday, vaping devices, products and packaging can no longer be displayed at general retailers. Specialist vape stores must not display products in any way that makes them visible from outside their place of business - that includes advertising, display in online stores and in vending machines. There are also many new restrictions on advertising to promote or encourage the use of vaping products, including to existing customers. The new raft of advertising restrictions mean businesses could face a $2000 infringement fine. For instance, the government says it would violate the new regulations if a shop is advertising or posting about vaping products on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitteror Google business listings. "From the 17th June we will no longer be able to show images of the products," one online vape retailer says on its website. There's quite a lot of detail in the new advertising rules and a full breakdown can be found on Health New Zealand's website. Also as of Tuesday, vaping specialist retailers can no longer use various promotional techniques such as giving away free vaping products, discounts, offering rewards, cash rebates or gifts for the purchase of vaping products, or offer lotteries or games to people who buy vaping products. Haven't there already been some restrictions on vapes? Yes, as part of the series of changes to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 last year. The new changes are the second line of alterations which began coming into effect in December. As of December, fines for selling to minors and publishing prohibited advertisements were increased, and new vape speciality stores were forbidden from opening within 100 metres of early childhood education centres. There were already location restrictions saying speciality vape stores had to be at least 300 metres from schools or marae. In introducing the amendments to smoking regulations last year, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said, "New Zealand was too slow to effectively regulate vaping, and youth vaping rates are too high". "We have collectively agreed that, we have recognised that, and we know that we can do better. We have to stop young people from taking it up as a habit." The ban on disposable vapes was put off for six months to allow retailers to prepare for the changes. Jonathan Devery, chair of the Vaping Industry Association of New Zealand, said the group does support the disposable vapes ban, with a few caveats. He said while VIANZ "supports the intent behind the policy - to reduce youth access and address the environmental impact of single-use products - the association is urging caution about the potential unintended consequences". University of Otago public health professor Janet Hoek, a leading researcher into vaping, said whether or not the ban will make a difference will depend on enforcement and product innovation by the industry. Will people just switch from disposable vapes to refillable pods? "I would expect [the ban] to reduce youth vaping given young people are very price sensitive," Hoek said. "However, if the industry responds, as I think it is likely to do, by introducing cheaper pod vapes, the impact will be much less limited than we might hope." "They're not a straightforward replacement," Devery said. "There's a real risk that removing the most convenient smoking cessation option could drive consumers back to cigarettes." Hoek said many manufacturers may look for loopholes they can exploit with bans. "Disposable vapes are typically inexpensive [i.e., may cost less than $10 a device], so the vaping industry may respond by introducing new lower priced reusable vapes," Hoek said, saying she had seen pod starter kits - without pods, which cost extra - being advertised for under $10. "We saw this behaviour among tobacco companies as they tried to undermine the impact of increased tobacco excise taxes [they 'shifted' the tax to higher priced brands, away from lower priced brands and introduced entirely new brands to create a new 'super value' partition within the market]." Devery of VIANZ said it's possible some vape sales may just go underground. "There are also serious concerns about enforcement," he said. "Early warnings from the UK, where a disposable vape ban came into effect on 1 June, suggest black market sales are likely to increase." Hoek said there is a lot of concern that manufacturers may find ways around disposable bans - she pointed to 'Big Puff' high-capacity throwaway vapes that have drawn concern in the UK with their own disposables ban. What does this mean for the vaping industry? "We have consistently called for a full ban on disposable vapes, rather than incremental technical fixes, and we welcome the environmental benefits it will bring," Devery said. "But the transition must be managed carefully to avoid driving consumers back to smoking or into unregulated markets." The industry group feels that some of the advertising restrictions may ultimately harm consumers and make it harder for retailers to interact with them. "Many retailers, especially online, have relied on clear product information and guidance to help adults make informed choices," Devery said. "New restrictions will limit what can be communicated, making it harder for consumers to understand available options or find support to switch." "Retailers are still recovering from last year's rushed regulations that left them with unsellable stock and high compliance costs - from updating websites to in-store signage," he said. Many retailers have discounted their products heavily before the bans take effect. But should more be done to control vaping? Hoek said she thought the new measures would help cut youth vaping, but more strategy was needed. "There are many omissions from the measures (e.g., the high concentration of vape stores in lower income communities; the location of vape stores right next to schools). I would favour a more proactive strategy that reduced the appeal, availability, addictiveness and affordability of vaping products." One of the key complaints about disposable vapes have been the waste they generate, Devery said. "Removing disposables will help cut vape-related e-waste by over 80 percent according to our industry estimates, but more must be done," he said. "VIANZ recommends expanded take-back schemes like VapeCycle, producer-responsibility regulations, and better consumer education on safe disposal." "I would favour a 'polluter pays' model, where vape companies are responsible for the costs their products create," Hoek said. "Vape companies have been given clear rules to follow, and yet some are already looking for loopholes," Asthma and Respiratory Foundation chief executive Letitia Harding said in a statement. Will this help New Zealand meet its Smokefree 2025 goals? Back in 2011, New Zealand's government set the goal of a Smokefree New Zealand by 2025. There have been concerns that goal is falling short, with particular worries about Māori and Pasifika smoking rates. Costello has maintained the government's changes will continue work toward the target. "We do not want our young people vaping," Costello said in Parliament. "We do not want them taking up this habit. We do not want them to be nicotine addicted. We also don't want anybody taking up tobacco and smoking." The current smokefree goal aims to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December, but the latest data reveals there are still about 300,000 daily smokers - 6.9 percent of adults - across the country. "VIANZ urges the government to closely monitor the ban's impact on smoking rates, particularly among priority groups, and ensure regulations don't inadvertently harm those most vulnerable," Deverey said. "Vaping regulation must be viewed in the context of the devastating harm caused by smoking, which kills two out of every three users." "Strong rules and environmental responsibility are essential, but the broader goal must remain to reduce smoking and improve public health outcomes." Hoek said it's important vaping retailers were brought along on that goal. "People who sell vaping products should be able to help people switch successfully from smoking to vaping," she said. "Early work we did with general retailers (dairy owners) showed they knew next to nothing about the products they sold (and some offered completely incorrect advice). Ignorance among retailers creates a risk that people who could benefit by switching to vaping will buy a product that isn't well suited to their needs." "We also need to let people know that, once they have switched completely to vaping and no longer think there's a risk they would return to smoking, they should stop vaping. "That latter message isn't [for obvious reasons] communicated by vaping companies or retailers."
1News
16-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
Goodbye disposable vapes: What are the new rules from tomorrow?
Disposable vape fans will see their habit go up in smoke from Tuesday, as tough new vape rules kick in. Here's what you need to know about changes to vape sales and advertising. What's being banned? The distribution, manufacture, sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned from tomorrow. "We are getting rid of vapes that are most popular among young people, and that can only be positive," Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said in announcing the changes last year. ADVERTISEMENT The 2023/24 NZ Health Survey found 10.5% of people aged 15 to 17 vaped daily. However, pod-style vaping devices will still be sold. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a push to lift our superannuation age, rising Middle East tensions, and Auckland's amateur footballers face off against global giants. (Source: 1News) They contain pre-filled pods which are swapped out to refill the vape. Also, as of tomorrow, vaping devices, products and packaging can no longer be displayed at general retailers. Specialist vape stores must not display products in any way that makes them visible from outside their place of business - that includes advertising, display in online stores and in vending machines. There are also many new restrictions on advertising to promote or encourage the use of vaping products, including to existing customers. The new raft of advertising restrictions means businesses could face a $2000 infringement fine. ADVERTISEMENT For instance, the Government says it would violate the new regulations if a shop is advertising or posting about vaping products on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Google business listings. "From June 17, we will no longer be able to show images of the products," one online vape retailer says on its website. There's quite a lot of detail in the new advertising rules, and a full breakdown can be found on Health New Zealand's website. Research finds people who vape are more than twice as likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (Source: 1News) Also, as of Tuesday, vaping specialist retailers can no longer use various promotional techniques such as giving away free vaping products, discounts, offering rewards, cash rebates or gifts for the purchase of vaping products, or offering lotteries or games to people who buy vaping products. Haven't there already been some restrictions on vapes? Yes, as part of the series of changes to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 last year. The new changes are the second line of alterations, which began coming into effect in December. ADVERTISEMENT As of December, fines for selling to minors and publishing prohibited advertisements were increased, and new vape speciality stores were forbidden from opening within 100 metres of early childhood education centres. There were already location restrictions saying speciality vape stores had to be at least 300 metres from schools or marae. In introducing the amendments to smoking regulations last year, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said, "New Zealand was too slow to effectively regulate vaping, and youth vaping rates are too high". Associate Health Minister Casey Costello. Photo: Nick Monro/RNZ (Source: "We have collectively agreed that, we have recognised that, and we know that we can do better. We have to stop young people from taking it up as a habit." The ban on disposable vapes was put off for six months to allow retailers to prepare for the changes. Jonathan Devery, chairperson of the Vaping Industry Association of New Zealand (VIANZ), said the group does support the disposable vapes ban, with a few caveats. ADVERTISEMENT He said while VIANZ "supports the intent behind the policy - to reduce youth access and address the environmental impact of single-use products - the association is urging caution about the potential unintended consequences". University of Otago public health professor Janet Hoek, a leading researcher into vaping, said whether or not the ban will make a difference will depend on enforcement and product innovation by the industry. Will people just switch from disposable vapes to refillable pods? "I would expect [the ban] to reduce youth vaping given young people are very price sensitive," Hoek said. "However, if the industry responds, as I think it is likely to do, by introducing cheaper pod vapes, the impact will be much less limited than we might hope." University of Otago Professor Janet Hoek. (Source: Supplied) "They're not a straightforward replacement," Devery said. ADVERTISEMENT "There's a real risk that removing the most convenient smoking cessation option could drive consumers back to cigarettes." Hoek said many manufacturers may look for loopholes they can exploit with bans. "Disposable vapes are typically inexpensive [i.e., may cost less than $10 a device], so the vaping industry may respond by introducing new lower-priced reusable vapes," Hoek said, saying she had seen pod starter kits - without pods, which cost extra - being advertised for under $10. "We saw this behaviour among tobacco companies as they tried to undermine the impact of increased tobacco excise taxes [they 'shifted' the tax to higher priced brands, away from lower priced brands and introduced entirely new brands to create a new 'super value' partition within the market]." The results are prompting calls for tighter regulation and more support, Kate Nicol-Williams reports. (Source: 1News) Devery of VIANZ said it's possible some vape sales may just go underground. "There are also serious concerns about enforcement," he said. ADVERTISEMENT "Early warnings from the UK, where a disposable vape ban came into effect on June 1, suggest black market sales are likely to increase." Hoek said there is a lot of concern that manufacturers may find ways around disposable bans - she pointed to "Big Puff" high-capacity throwaway vapes that have drawn concern in the UK with their own disposables ban. What does this mean for the vaping industry? "We have consistently called for a full ban on disposable vapes, rather than incremental technical fixes, and we welcome the environmental benefits it will bring," Devery said. "But the transition must be managed carefully to avoid driving consumers back to smoking or into unregulated markets." The industry group feels that some of the advertising restrictions may ultimately harm consumers and make it harder for retailers to interact with them. "Many retailers, especially online, have relied on clear product information and guidance to help adults make informed choices," Devery said. ADVERTISEMENT A woman vaping. (Source: "New restrictions will limit what can be communicated, making it harder for consumers to understand available options or find support to switch." "Retailers are still recovering from last year's rushed regulations that left them with unsellable stock and high compliance costs - from updating websites to in-store signage," he said. Many retailers have discounted their products heavily before the bans take effect. But should more be done to control vaping? Hoek said she thought the new measures would help cut youth vaping, but more strategy was needed. "There are many omissions from the measures (e.g., the high concentration of vape stores in lower-income communities; the location of vape stores right next to schools). ADVERTISEMENT "I would favour a more proactive strategy that reduced the appeal, availability, addictiveness and affordability of vaping products." One of the key complaints about disposable vapes has been the waste they generate, Devery said. Yellow disposable electronic cigarette in a teenagers hand. (Source: "Removing disposables will help cut vape-related e-waste by over 80% according to our industry estimates, but more must be done," he said. "VIANZ recommends expanded take-back schemes like VapeCycle, producer-responsibility regulations, and better consumer education on safe disposal." "I would favour a 'polluter pays' model, where vape companies are responsible for the costs their products create," Hoek said. "Vape companies have been given clear rules to follow, and yet some are already looking for loopholes," Asthma and Respiratory Foundation chief executive Letitia Harding said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT Will this help NZ meet its Smokefree 2025 goals? Back in 2011, New Zealand's government set the goal of a Smokefree New Zealand by 2025. There have been concerns that the goal is falling short, with particular worries about Māori and Pasifika smoking rates. Costello has maintained the Government's changes will continue to work toward the target. "We do not want our young people vaping," Costello said in Parliament. "We do not want them taking up this habit. We do not want them to be nicotine addicted. We also don't want anybody taking up tobacco and smoking." Vaping (file photo). (Source: The current smokefree goal aims to have less than 5% of the population smoking by December, but the latest data reveals there are still about 300,000 daily smokers - 6.9% of adults - across the country. ADVERTISEMENT "VIANZ urges the Government to closely monitor the ban's impact on smoking rates, particularly among priority groups, and ensure regulations don't inadvertently harm those most vulnerable," Deverey said. "Vaping regulation must be viewed in the context of the devastating harm caused by smoking, which kills two out of every three users." "Strong rules and environmental responsibility are essential, but the broader goal must remain to reduce smoking and improve public health outcomes." Hoek said it's important vaping retailers were brought along on that goal. "People who sell vaping products should be able to help people switch successfully from smoking to vaping," she said. "We also need to let people know that, once they have switched completely to vaping and no longer think there's a risk they would return to smoking, they should stop vaping. "That latter message isn't [for obvious reasons] communicated by vaping companies or retailers." ADVERTISEMENT By Nik Dirga of
Otago Daily Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Tough new vape rules set to kick in
By Nik Dirga of RNZ Explainer - Disposable vape fans will see their habit go up in smoke from Tuesday as tough new vape rules kick in. Here's what you need to know about changes to vape sales and advertising. What's being banned? The distribution, manufacture, sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned from Tuesday. "We are getting rid of vapes that are most popular among young people, and that can only be positive," Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said in announcing the changes last year. The 2023/24 NZ Health Survey found 10.5 percent of people aged 15 to 17 vaped daily. However, pod-style vaping devices will still be sold. They contain pre-filled pods which are swapped out to refill the vape. Also as of Tuesday, vaping devices, products and packaging can no longer be displayed at general retailers. Specialist vape stores must not display products in any way that makes them visible from outside their place of business - that includes advertising, display in online stores and in vending machines. There are also many new restrictions on advertising to promote or encourage the use of vaping products, including to existing customers. The new raft of advertising restrictions mean businesses could face a $2000 infringement fine. For instance, the government says it would violate the new regulations if a shop is advertising or posting about vaping products on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Google business listings. "From the 17th June we will no longer be able to show images of the products," one online vape retailer says on its website. There's quite a lot of detail in the new advertising rules and a full breakdown can be found on Health New Zealand's website. Also as of Tuesday, vaping specialist retailers can no longer use various promotional techniques such as giving away free vaping products, discounts, offering rewards, cash rebates or gifts for the purchase of vaping products, or offer lotteries or games to people who buy vaping products. Haven't there already been some restrictions on vapes? Yes, as part of the series of changes to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 last year. The new changes are the second line of alterations which began coming into effect in December. As of December, fines for selling to minors and publishing prohibited advertisements were increased, and new vape speciality stores were forbidden from opening within 100 metres of early childhood education centres. There were already location restrictions saying speciality vape stores had to be at least 300 metres from schools or marae. In introducing the amendments to smoking regulations last year, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said, "New Zealand was too slow to effectively regulate vaping, and youth vaping rates are too high". "We have collectively agreed that, we have recognised that, and we know that we can do better. We have to stop young people from taking it up as a habit." The ban on disposable vapes was put off for six months to allow retailers to prepare for the changes. Jonathan Devery, chair of the Vaping Industry Association of New Zealand, said the group does support the disposable vapes ban, with a few caveats. He said while VIANZ "supports the intent behind the policy - to reduce youth access and address the environmental impact of single-use products - the association is urging caution about the potential unintended consequences". University of Otago public health professor Janet Hoek, a leading researcher into vaping, said whether or not the ban will make a difference will depend on enforcement and product innovation by the industry. Will people just switch from disposable vapes to refillable pods? "I would expect [the ban] to reduce youth vaping given young people are very price sensitive," Hoek said. "However, if the industry responds, as I think it is likely to do, by introducing cheaper pod vapes, the impact will be much less limited than we might hope." "They're not a straightforward replacement," Devery said. "There's a real risk that removing the most convenient smoking cessation option could drive consumers back to cigarettes." Hoek said many manufacturers may look for loopholes they can exploit with bans. "Disposable vapes are typically inexpensive [i.e., may cost less than $10 a device], so the vaping industry may respond by introducing new lower priced reusable vapes," Hoek said, saying she had seen pod starter kits - without pods, which cost extra - being advertised for under $10. "We saw this behaviour among tobacco companies as they tried to undermine the impact of increased tobacco excise taxes [they 'shifted' the tax to higher priced brands, away from lower priced brands and introduced entirely new brands to create a new 'super value' partition within the market]." Devery of VIANZ said it's possible some vape sales may just go underground. "There are also serious concerns about enforcement," he said. "Early warnings from the UK, where a disposable vape ban came into effect on 1 June, suggest black market sales are likely to increase." Hoek said there is a lot of concern that manufacturers may find ways around disposable bans - she pointed to 'Big Puff' high-capacity throwaway vapes that have drawn concern in the UK with their own disposables ban. What does this mean for the vaping industry? "We have consistently called for a full ban on disposable vapes, rather than incremental technical fixes, and we welcome the environmental benefits it will bring," Devery said. "But the transition must be managed carefully to avoid driving consumers back to smoking or into unregulated markets." The industry group feels that some of the advertising restrictions may ultimately harm consumers and make it harder for retailers to interact with them. "Many retailers, especially online, have relied on clear product information and guidance to help adults make informed choices," Devery said. "New restrictions will limit what can be communicated, making it harder for consumers to understand available options or find support to switch." "Retailers are still recovering from last year's rushed regulations that left them with unsellable stock and high compliance costs - from updating websites to in-store signage," he said. Many retailers have discounted their products heavily before the bans take effect. But should more be done to control vaping? Hoek said she thought the new measures would help cut youth vaping, but more strategy was needed. "There are many omissions from the measures (e.g., the high concentration of vape stores in lower income communities; the location of vape stores right next to schools). I would favour a more proactive strategy that reduced the appeal, availability, addictiveness and affordability of vaping products." One of the key complaints about disposable vapes have been the waste they generate, Devery said. "Removing disposables will help cut vape-related e-waste by over 80 percent according to our industry estimates, but more must be done," he said. "VIANZ recommends expanded take-back schemes like VapeCycle, producer-responsibility regulations, and better consumer education on safe disposal." "I would favour a 'polluter pays' model, where vape companies are responsible for the costs their products create," Hoek said. "Vape companies have been given clear rules to follow, and yet some are already looking for loopholes," Asthma and Respiratory Foundation chief executive Letitia Harding said in a statement. Will this help New Zealand meet its Smokefree 2025 goals? Back in 2011, New Zealand's government set the goal of a Smokefree New Zealand by 2025. There have been concerns that goal is falling short, with particular worries about Māori and Pasifika smoking rates. Costello has maintained the government's changes will continue work toward the target. "We do not want our young people vaping," Costello said in Parliament. "We do not want them taking up this habit. We do not want them to be nicotine addicted. We also don't want anybody taking up tobacco and smoking." The current smokefree goal aims to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December, but the latest data reveals there are still about 300,000 daily smokers - 6.9 percent of adults - across the country. "VIANZ urges the government to closely monitor the ban's impact on smoking rates, particularly among priority groups, and ensure regulations don't inadvertently harm those most vulnerable," Deverey said. "Vaping regulation must be viewed in the context of the devastating harm caused by smoking, which kills two out of every three users." "Strong rules and environmental responsibility are essential, but the broader goal must remain to reduce smoking and improve public health outcomes." Hoek said it's important vaping retailers were brought along on that goal. "People who sell vaping products should be able to help people switch successfully from smoking to vaping," she said. "We also need to let people know that, once they have switched completely to vaping and no longer think there's a risk they would return to smoking, they should stop vaping. "That latter message isn't [for obvious reasons] communicated by vaping companies or retailers."
