New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS) data released in early December suggest substantial reductions in smoking prevalence occurred between 2019/20 and 2020/21 among all ethnic groups.
People who smoke with serious mental illness carry disproportionate costs from smoking, including poor health and premature death from tobacco-related illnesses.
New research from ASPIRE2025 researchers found some progress but many problems with the outdoor smokefree policies of the sample of NZ councils studied.
The Government’s Action Plan for a Smokefree Aotearoa is comprehensive, bold, and recognises the importance of improving the health of Māori and eliminating the unacceptable disparities in smoking
In November 2004, 44 per cent of bar managers supported smokefree indoor regulations. Six months later, after the smokefree bar law came into effect, 61 per cent were supportive.
A decade has passed since the then National-led government accepted the Māori Affairs Select Committee (MASC) Inquiry recommendation that New Zealand set a “longer-term goal of reducing smoking prevalence and tobacco availability to minimal levels, thereby [becoming] essentially a smokefree nation by 2025.”