Wellington: New Zealand has reported a substantial decline in its national smoking rates, which have dropped to 6.8 percent.
According to Thai News Agency, the New Zealand government's official website, beehive.govt.nz, indicates that the latest New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS) reveals this significant reduction. Over the past six years, the smoking rates among Pacific communities have halved, while smoking rates among young people have reached their lowest levels, highlighting a generational shift. Notably, smoking rates among individuals aged 15-24 have decreased to 3.2 percent from 19.2 percent since the survey began 13 years ago.
New Zealand's Deputy Health Minister Casey Costello commented on the survey data, emphasizing the continued progress made in recent years, particularly with the decline in Pacific smokers and the very low youth smoking rates. She noted that New Zealand now boasts the third lowest smoking rate in the OECD and has achieved the most substantial progress in reducing smoking rates worldwide. Recent surveys also show that the number of cigarettes smoked per day by adults has halved over the past decade, demonstrating the government's commitment to reducing smoking rates and the harm they cause.
Costello acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in addressing the needs of older, long-term smokers who have been the most challenging to quit since the Smokefree initiative began. The government aims to build on the effective tools, supports, and approaches that have worked over the years while targeting key populations, including older smokers, particularly Maori and Pacific people. Smoking rates among these groups have fallen significantly over the past five years, and this downward trend is expected to continue.
The government's strategy involves taking concrete steps to provide smokers with the necessary tools to quit and sustain their cessation efforts. Costello expressed her intent to maximize the resources available, including increasing engagement with smoking cessation services. She is also considering further regulatory changes to ensure a system that adequately reflects the harms of smoking products and maintains appropriate market controls. Additionally, with stricter vaping regulations for young people now in place, Costello emphasized the importance of communicating that vaping can be an effective tool to help thousands quit smoking.