Tobacco control information 

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the world and New Zealand.

It is responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide - about five million deaths each year, 13,500 deaths per day. It kills over 4500 New Zealanders every year, including around 350 from exposure to second-hand smoke.

The World Health Organization defines tobacco control as

"a range of supply, demand and harm reduction strategies that aim to improve the health of a populace by eliminating or reducing their consumption of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke."

In New Zealand, the amount invested in tobacco control by the Government has increased from under $1 million in 1996, to around $56 million per annum today.

Health effects 

The negative health effects of smoking are numerous. Smoking is the underlying cause of many diseases including cancers, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart disease and stroke. It is a major cause of blindness. On average a non-smoker's life expectancy is 79 years, while a smoker's average life expectancy is 65 years.

Prior to the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke, or second-hand smoke, is estimated to have killed around 350 New Zealanders each year.

Statistics and trends 

According to the Ministry of Health's 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey, 19.9 percent of New Zealanders aged 15 and over are smokers. This is down from 23.4 percent in 2003.

The smoking rate for Māori men has also dropped from 42.9 percent in 2004 to 34.8 percent in 2007. For Māori women it dropped from 51 percent in 2003 to 40.1 percent in 2007.

The smoking rate among Pacific people dropped from 34.6 percent in 2003 to 25.4 per cent in 2007.

Smoking rates for young people in New Zealand are also decreasing, and fewer students are starting to smoke. According to The ASH Year 10 Survey 2007 daily smoking prevalence amongst 14-15 year olds in has fallen from 12 percent in 2003 to 7 percent in 2007. Students are much less likely to smoke in 2007 than in earlier years. Regular smoking (though not necessarily daily) decreased by almost half, from 21 percent in 2003 to 13 percent in 2007. More students (57 percent of 14-15 year olds) also say they have never smoked, not even a puff.

The prevalence of smoking among Māori young people remains high compared to non-Māori, with 12.4 percent (boys) and 22 percent (girls) of year 10 Māori students smoking daily or regularly.

Fourteen percent of Pacific boys smoke daily or regularly compared to 8 percent of Asian and NZ European boys. Eighteen percent of Pacific girls smoke daily or regularly compared to 11 percent for Asian and NZ European girls.

Compared to other developed countries, New Zealand's adult smoking levels are relatively low for males and high for females. New Zealand males smoke more than males in the US, Australia and Canada, but less than males in many European countries. The smoking rates of New Zealand females are higher than for women in Japan, Italy, the US, Australia, Finland, Sweden and Canada.

Further smoking information and statistics can be found in:

• Ash Year 10 Survey 2007 (PDF 338Kb)
• Key results of the 2006/07 New Zealand Health Survey
• Tobacco Control Facts at a Glance (PDF, 438Kb)
• Tobacco Facts 2005 (Ministry of Health)
• Statistics New Zealand web site
• The Quit Group web site

What's in tobacco? 

Tobacco contains over 400 chemicals which are released when it is smoked. There are 40 known cancer-causing substances. There is no known safe level of smoking.

Smokefree legislation 

New Zealand has strong tobacco control legislation, with bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, smoking in indoor workplaces and on public transport, and on the sale of cigarettes to those under 18 years.

Indoor workplaces in New Zealand were required to be smokefree from 10 December 2004, following the passage of the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 12 months earlier.

The smokefree provisions apply to all indoor workplaces, including bars, restaurants, clubs, casinos, offices, factories, warehouses and work canteens.

Schools and early childhood centres are required to be smokefree in buildings and grounds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

An evaluation of the smokefree workplaces legislation (PDF 658Kb) has found high compliance and strong public support. There has been no negative effect on restaurant or bar takings, tourist numbers or employment.

For further information about smokefree legislation see www.smokefreelaw.co.nz.

You can find out more about smokefree policies implemented by local government at www.smokefreecouncils.org.nz.

History of tobacco control in New Zealand 

People have used tobacco, or other plants that contain nicotine, for many centuries. Check out the history of tobacco use in New Zealand, from the pre-1900s to today.

Tobacco control organisations 

The Smokefree/Auahi Kore Directory 2008  (PDF, 753 Kilobytes) is available here.