The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has challenged calls for tighter vaping restrictions in New Zealand ahead of Election 2026. The group argues that further curbs risk undermining adult smoking cessation while creating an illicit market similar to Australia’s cross-border trade.
The dispute escalated after Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) released a policy survey detailing 12 public health priorities. While the Green Party, Te Pāti Māori, and Labour supported the proposed tobacco controls, National and New Zealand First did not participate. CAPHRA contends this outcome shows an absence of political consensus regarding additional market restrictions.
Smoking Reductions Plateau Above Smokefree 2025 Targets
Official Ministry of Health figures show that daily adult smoking fell from 16.4% in 2011/12 to 6.8% in 2024/25. The total number of daily smokers dropped from 572,000 to approximately 294,000 over that span. However, the national smoking rate has stalled at 6.8% for three years, leaving the country short of its Smokefree 2025 target of under 5%.
CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas stated that New Zealand’s long-term progress must be factored into future policy decisions:
“The long-term decline should be recognised when considering whether additional vaping restrictions are justified.”
While daily smoking declined, daily vaping rose from 0.9% in 2015/16 to 11.7% in 2024/25, representing roughly 509,000 adults. The Ministry of Health notes that survey data shows these trends occurred concurrently, though demographic data alone cannot establish direct causality.
Ethnic Disparities Highlight Harm-Reduction Challenges
National averages conceal substantial public health disparities among ethnic groups. Daily smoking among Māori adults stands at 15%, more than double the national average, while Pacific adult smoking sits at 10.3%.
| Demographic Group | Daily Smoking Rate (2024/25) | Daily Vaping Rate (2024/25) |
|---|---|---|
| Māori | 15.0% | 27.5% |
| Pacific | 10.3% | 20.0% |
| European & Other | 5.7% | Unspecified (Below Average) |
| Asian | 4.5% | Unspecified (Below Average) |
| National Total | 6.8% | 11.7% |
Māori also record the highest daily vaping rate at 27.5%, followed by Pacific adults at 20.0%. This distribution creates a dual policy challenge: reducing high smoking rates without establishing long-term nicotine dependence among younger generations.
Australia Serves as a Warning Against Black Market Growth
CAPHRA warns that excessive restrictions could drive consumers toward illicit supply chains. The group points to Australia, where border enforcement seized over 2,300 tonnes of illicit tobacco, 13.2 million illegal vapes, and 2.2 billion illicit cigarette sticks during the 2025/26 financial year.
Australian border seizures revealed that evaded tobacco duty exceeded A$4.7 billion as organized crime took control of distribution. CAPHRA argues that New Zealand must direct state resources toward rogue retailer compliance rather than restricting regulated consumer access.
