New Zealand Falls Short of Smokefree 2025 Target as Rates Stagnate

A recent survey from Health NZ reveals that New Zealand has missed its ambitious Smokefree 2025 target. Despite a slight decrease in smoking rates to 6.2%, the figure remains significantly above the 5% goal set for the end of 2025. The report indicates that while smoking rates fell marginally, they did not reflect the necessary progress, with only 4,000 people quitting smoking over the past year, far short of the estimated 82,000 needed to meet the target.

The Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 initiative was launched in 2010, aiming to reduce smoking prevalence across all demographics. In a positive trend, daily smoking rates among adults have decreased from 11.9% in 2019–20 to 6.8% in the latest survey. However, the increase in vaping usage, which rose from 3.5% to 11.7% over the same period, raises concerns, particularly regarding youth engagement.

Youth Vaping Rises Amid Smoking Decline

The increase in vaping is especially concerning, with daily use among 15- to 17-year-olds climbing from 10.3% to 13.6%. This change translates to approximately 4,000 more adolescents developing a daily vaping habit. Notably, smoking rates among young people have significantly declined, dropping from 19.2% to 3.2% over the past 13 years.

Disparities persist in smoking rates, particularly among socio-economic groups. Adults in the most deprived neighborhoods report a daily smoking rate of 12.9%, compared to just 2.4% in affluent areas. While smoking rates among Pacific communities have halved in recent years, they remain high at 10.3%. Furthermore, men continue to smoke at higher rates than women, with daily smoking rates at 8.3% and 5.3% respectively.

Political Reactions and Future Strategies

The findings prompted responses from various political leaders. Labour leader Chris Hipkins criticized the current government’s approach, claiming an increase of approximately 7,000 individuals smoking more than a pack per day since the administration of Christopher Luxon. Hipkins stated, “This is a government that has adopted the talking points of the tobacco lobby… We’re going backwards when we could have been world-leading in getting to smokefree.”

In contrast, Luxon defended his government’s performance, highlighting New Zealand’s status as having the third-lowest smoking rate in the OECD. He noted the substantial progress among young people, particularly in the 15 to 24 age group, where rates are now below 5%.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello welcomed the survey results as evidence of ongoing progress, despite the failure to meet the Smokefree 2025 goal. She acknowledged the remaining challenges, particularly among older, long-term smokers who are proving difficult to incentivize to quit. Costello emphasized the importance of targeting specific populations, including Māori and Pacific peoples, to sustain the downward trend in smoking rates.

Costello reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing resources and regulatory measures surrounding smoking cessation efforts. “We need to build on these and target the key populations—older smokers and especially Māori and Pacific peoples,” she stated.

The ongoing struggle to meet the Smokefree 2025 target highlights the complexities of tobacco control in New Zealand. As the government aims to strengthen anti-smoking initiatives, the focus will remain on addressing both the smoking and vaping trends that continue to affect public health.