COVID-19 Pandemic - Fear of the virus has triggered a lot of people to get healthier so some people are quitting smoking. But, lockdown has caused many to lose their jobs or businesses. The resulting stress has caused some people to take up smoking or smoke more.

Vaping legalised - A new law regulating vaping products passed on 5 August 2020. This will make it harder for some people, e.g. in rural areas to access a wide range of flavours and support to switch. The Government’s endorsement of vaping as a way to stop smoking will encourage many to give it a go.

QuitStrong campaign - A Government national mass media campaign encouraging people to stop smoking, including via vaping.

Excise tax increase. Price of cigarettes goes up by 1.4%

Vape to Quitstrong Campaign goes live. A Government national mass media campaign encouraging smokers to switch to vaping leading them to quit completely.

New Associate Health Minister seeks comments on extreme ways to stop people smoking (e.g. inducing mass cold turkey)!

Police begin fining people $50 if they smoke, vape or use a smokeless tobacco product in a vehicle when a person under 18 years old is present.

Total adult (15yrs+) daily smoking drops to 9.4% down from 16.4% in 2011/12.

Government proposes prohibition law to rapidly eliminate smoking, after which they intend to eliminate vaping.

Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill introduced to parliament aims to: denicotinise smoked tobacco products, reduce the number of tobacco retailers from about 8000 nationwide to only 500-1000, increase age of purchase by 1 year every year.

Total adult (15yrs+) daily smoking down from 9.4% to 8%.

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 becomes law.

Step 1 of the new law comes into effect. Gifting or selling combustible tobacco products (intended for smoking) to people born on or after 1 January 2009 becomes illegal. From 1 Jan 2027 R18 will become R19 and will increase by 1 year every year.

New approved vape shops must be at least 300m from a registered school or marae.

Retailers selling smoked tobacco must have notified the Director General of Health of their desire to continue selling smoked tobacco products.

The new Government proposes to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 to remove requirements to: denicotinise smoked tobacco products, reduce the number of tobacco retailers, and increase age of purchase by 1 year every year. They also propose to reform the regulation of vaping, smokeless tobacco & oral nicotine products; ensure serious penalties will apply for anyone selling vaping products to under 18-year-olds; tax smoked products only; ban disposable vaping products and consider requiring a liquor licence to sell vapes.

Total adult (15yrs+) daily smoking down from 8% in 2021/22 to 6.8%.

Single-use vapes (‘disposables’) must meet Product Safety Requirements (e.g. 20mg nicotine limit, a removable battery, child safety mechanisms & meet labelling restrictions).

Smokefree Amendment Bill repeals Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 requirements to: denicotinise smoked tobacco products, reduce the number of tobacco retailers, and increase age of purchase by 1 year every year; and commits to strengthening restrictions on vaping.

Vape shops must not sell vaping products or smokeless tobacco products that invoke imagery of cartoons or toys, or use non-permitted flavour descriptions on their packaging. And reusable vapes must meet Product Safety Requirements (e.g. a 28.5mg nicotine salt limit, have a removable battery & child safety mechanisms).

Excise tax reduced by 50% on heated tobacco products.