Latest news with #Smokefree2025
Kiwiblog
5 days ago
- Health
- Kiwiblog
So much wrong in one article
Radio NZ reports: More than 80,000 Kiwis must quit smoking before the end of the year to meet the goal of Smokefree 2025, which was launched 14 years ago. But Professor of Public Health Chris Bullen tells The Detail that it is unlikely to happen – 'I don't believe so, sadly. 'The evidence suggests we are not heading in the right direction fast enough,' says Bullen, who is also the director of the National Institute for Health Innovation. 'We have got more work to do in 2026 and beyond.' The 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 across the country. The daily smoking rate has dropped from 16.4% to 6.9% since 2011, which is a huge reduction. It is correct that it is unlikely to drop 1.9% in one year, as those remaining are a small but persistent hardcore. Bullen says part of the issue is, last year, the coalition government repealed three areas of the Smokefree law, most importantly the denicotinisation of tobacco products (where the nicotine is basically taken out of cigarettes) and banning the sale of tobacco products to those born after 1 January 2009. 'I think we could have gotten to the goal under the previous legislation, but that was repealed by the current government. This is just nonsense, and we know it is because look at when these provisions were to come into force. The ban (which would not have worked) to those born after 1 January 2009 would not take effect until 2027, so claiming it would help you make a 2025 target is embarrassing. A tobacco industry-funded report has just revealed that 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market, smuggled into the country, largely from China and South Korea, and available on Facebook Marketplace, at construction sites, and in some dairies. Black market cigarettes are about half the price of legal packets, which can cost up to $45. But Bullen is not convinced the percentage of illegal sales is as high as reported. He says it is more likely around the 10-15 percent mark. He believes the tobacco industry inflates the number – and the problem – to 'encourage the government to ease up on being tough on their product'. Here Professor Bullen has an opinion that the black market is not as high as as reported, but with not any proof or data to back his view. One source of data is government excise revenue on tobacco. For the year to March 2025 it was $1.49b and in March 2023 it was $1.81b. So it has dropped 18% despite the rate going up and no reported change in smoking rates in this period. New research, which overlays vape stores on school locations, shows 44 percent of schools have a vape store within a one-kilometre radius This old chestnut. There is almost no area in urban New Zealand that is not within a 1 kms radius of a school. That is a 314 hectare circle. We have 2,500 schools. Since 2020, it has been illegal to sell vapes to people under 18, but students as young as 10 and 11 are vaping across New Zealand today. Yet he is convinced prohibition works!
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Smokefree 2025: A Promise Gone Up In Smoke
Press Release – Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand As the globe marks World Smokefree Day this Saturday, 31 May, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is reminding Kiwis that this was the year New Zealand was meant to become smokefree. Smokefree 2025 was within reach. Now, it's a milestone we're set to miss. As the globe marks World Smokefree Day this Saturday, 31 May, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is reminding Kiwis that this was the year New Zealand was meant to become smokefree. 'Instead, the Government rolled back the clock and stoked the fire, derailing years of public health progress,' Foundation Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says. Ms Harding says there is little to celebrate and much to be concerned about. 'We were on track to lead the world in tobacco control, now we appear to be leading the world in vaping. 'Our previous Smokefree laws were bold, evidence-based, and targeted at protecting future generations, but the repeal of those measures blindsided everyone.' The Foundation has been one of the strongest advocates for a smokefree Aotearoa for many years. It backed policies that would have phased out tobacco sales for future generations, reduced nicotine levels, and supported drastically cutting the number of retailers. Back in 2021, the Foundation celebrated the bold steps taken toward Smokefree 2025, calling it a 'significant step forward' in reducing respiratory disease and health inequities, particularly for Māori and Pacific communities. Fast forward to today, and the mood has shifted. The Foundation has been vocal in its disappointment over the coalition Government's decision to roll back key Smokefree laws, warning about the implications to the health of New Zealanders and a missed opportunity to lead the world in tobacco control. At the same time, the Foundation is deeply concerned by the new approach to achieving Smokefree Aotearoa – simply shifting the problem to vapes. 'The Government's strategy seems to be 'let's just add vapes to the mix', which is just another product that has harmful health effects and ensures future generations are nicotine dependent,' said Ms Harding. 'As we have said previously, that rationale is like letting stoats in to eradicate rabbits – that's not a solution. 'We're not breaking the cycle of nicotine dependency – we're just redirecting it,' she says. 'Let's free Aotearoa from the shackles of big tobacco, who make money on the back of nicotine dependency.' The goal shouldn't just be a smokefree New Zealand – it should be vape-free too, Ms Harding says. 'Otherwise, we're just chasing a new kind of addiction – and calling it progress.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Smokefree 2025: A Promise Gone Up In Smoke
Smokefree 2025 was within reach. Now, it's a milestone we're set to miss. As the globe marks World Smokefree Day this Saturday, 31 May, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is reminding Kiwis that this was the year New Zealand was meant to become smokefree. "Instead, the Government rolled back the clock and stoked the fire, derailing years of public health progress," Foundation Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says. Ms Harding says there is little to celebrate and much to be concerned about. "We were on track to lead the world in tobacco control, now we appear to be leading the world in vaping. "Our previous Smokefree laws were bold, evidence-based, and targeted at protecting future generations, but the repeal of those measures blindsided everyone." The Foundation has been one of the strongest advocates for a smokefree Aotearoa for many years. It backed policies that would have phased out tobacco sales for future generations, reduced nicotine levels, and supported drastically cutting the number of retailers. Back in 2021, the Foundation celebrated the bold steps taken toward Smokefree 2025, calling it a "significant step forward" in reducing respiratory disease and health inequities, particularly for Māori and Pacific communities. Fast forward to today, and the mood has shifted. The Foundation has been vocal in its disappointment over the coalition Government's decision to roll back key Smokefree laws, warning about the implications to the health of New Zealanders and a missed opportunity to lead the world in tobacco control. At the same time, the Foundation is deeply concerned by the new approach to achieving Smokefree Aotearoa - simply shifting the problem to vapes. "The Government's strategy seems to be 'let's just add vapes to the mix', which is just another product that has harmful health effects and ensures future generations are nicotine dependent," said Ms Harding. "As we have said previously, that rationale is like letting stoats in to eradicate rabbits - that's not a solution. "We're not breaking the cycle of nicotine dependency - we're just redirecting it," she says. "Let's free Aotearoa from the shackles of big tobacco, who make money on the back of nicotine dependency." The goal shouldn't just be a smokefree New Zealand - it should be vape-free too, Ms Harding says. "Otherwise, we're just chasing a new kind of addiction - and calling it progress."
Newsroom
13-05-2025
- Health
- Newsroom
Smokefree 2025 goal all but up in smoke
More than 80,000 Kiwis must quit smoking before the end of the year to meet the goal of Smokefree 2025, which was launched 14 years ago. But Professor of Public Health Chris Bullen tells The Detail it is unlikely to happen – 'I don't believe so, sadly'. 'The evidence suggests we are not heading in the right direction fast enough,' says Bullen, who is also the director of the National Institute for Health Innovation. 'We have got more work to do in 2026 and beyond.' The 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 across the country. Bullen says part of the issue is, last year, the coalition government repealed three areas of the Smokefree law, most importantly the de-nicotinisation of tobacco products (where the nicotine is basically taken out of cigarettes) and banning the sale of tobacco products to those born after January 1, 2009. 'I think we could have gotten to the goal under the previous legislation, but that was repealed by the current Government. 'The lack of policies to support and motivate more people to think about quitting means there's an awful lot of effort on the ground that's got to go on to get 84, 85 thousand people to quit smoking between now and the end of the year and I just don't see it happening fast enough.' He says the denicotinisation strategy needs to be revisited, and a smoke-free generation approach needs to be adopted to encourage young people not to start smoking. 'Other countries picked up the baton when we dropped it, and I think that would lock in the very low levels of smoking in our young people, forever, and this would be a real boost for their future prospects.' The Detail also speaks to Bullen about illegal tobacco and vaping, and the role they play in Smokefree Aotearoa. A tobacco industry-funded report shows that 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market, smuggled into the country, largely from China and South Korea, and available on Facebook Marketplace, at construction sites, and in some dairies. Black market cigarettes are about half the price of legal packets, which can cost up to $45. But Bullen is not convinced the percentage of illegal sales is as high as reported. He says it's more likely around the 10 to 15 percent mark. He believes the tobacco industry inflates the number – and the problem – to 'encourage the Government to ease up on being tough on their product'. 'Regardless, whatever kind of tobacco it is, it's dangerous,' says Bullen. Another growing addiction for New Zealanders is vaping, and new research from Auckland University has revealed almost half of schools across the country have a specialist vape store within a 10-minute walk, despite recent legislation aimed at preventing this. New research, which overlays vape stores on school locations, shows 44 percent of schools have a vape store within a 1km radius and 13 percent have a dedicated store within 300m. 'That means a lot of our young people are getting multiple exposures daily to vape stores and vape marketing,' he says. 'We know that association with visibility is important in normalising and making these products more acceptable. 'It's not good enough; we need to get tougher on the vast number of vape stores we have, they are way too accessible in New Zealand. 'We should continue to demand that the Government restrict the general vaping retailers. We don't need as many.' Since 2020, it has been illegal to sell vapes to people under 18, but students as young as 10 and 11 are vaping across New Zealand today. 'Probably, these young kids are getting them from their siblings, or from friends on the school ground who are operating like drug dealers, if you like – they are distributors. 'And they are getting them from their favourite store or on the internet, where you just click a box to say you are 18 or over, and bingo, and you have a delivery on its way, if you can hide that from your parents.' Bullen says across the board, more work has to be done with smoking, illegal cigarettes, and vaping in New Zealand. 'The sooner we can control tobacco, the better; then we have these other issues to work on. It's a bit like whack-a-mole, you just get on top of one thing, and another thing pops up.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
