Hāpai Te Hauora celebrates a decreasing number of smokers

"That amounts to every one in eight adults in New Zealand who smoke, about half a million people," said Mihi Blair, General Manager of the National Tobacco Control Advocacy Service at Hāpai.

Hāpai Te Hauora is quietly celebrating the release of Census 2018 figures which shows a drop in the proportion of regular smokers aged 15 years and over decreasing to 13.2 percent, compared to the 2013 Census figures of 15.1 percent.

"That amounts to every one in eight adults in New Zealand who smoke, about half a million people," said Mihi Blair, General Manager of the National Tobacco Control Advocacy Service at Hāpai.

"Even though the decrease is small, we should be celebrating," Ms. Blair said.

"I would attribute this decrease to the rapidly rising cost of tobacco, an increase in smoking alternatives such as vaping and a lower number of young adults taking up smoking."

"What’s more, these decreasing figures should make tobacco companies realise that they are not wanted in Aotearoa anymore, as they get rid of their addiction to tobacco."

"When you consider that only 13.2 percent of the New Zealand population aged over 15 now regularly smoke, and compare it with the 1976 Census figure of 35.6 percent of people who smoke, you realise how far we come," Ms. Blair said.

"However, we still have a long way to go if we are to attain the Smokefree 2025 goal of the population aged 15 and over who smoke being less than 5 percent."

"There still needs to be a real push towards more investment in the SF2025 goal, with a focus on targeted approaches to support people to quit combined with access to harm reduction products, with serious consideration to regulate tobacco supply, nicotine content, and flavors of tobacco products," Ms. Blair said.