NZ smoking figures show ‘monumental shift’

AAP
December 10, 2013

A DROP in the number of New Zealand smokers shows a “monumental shift” away from tobacco, the country’s Quitline says.

There are now 463,000 adult smokers in New Zealand, according to the March Census, a drop of 23 per cent from 598,000 at the last census in 2006.

That means 15 per cent of the adult population smokes, down from 20.7 per cent.

The number of people describing themselves as former smokers has also risen by 65,000 to 702,000.

“This is a monumental shift. We’re thrilled to see such a big drop in the number of smokers in New Zealand,” said Quitline chief executive Paula Snowden.

“These figures validate the hard work of all of us in tobacco control and send a strong signal that we will rid New Zealand of tobacco products.”

The 135,000-plus reduction in smokers was the equivalent of the population of Hamilton, she said.

It was also pleasing to see a steady decline in the notoriously high rates of smoking by Maori and Pacific Islanders.

Smoking prevalence among Maori has dropped from 42.2 per cent in 2006 to 32.7 per cent in 2013.

The New Zealand government has a goal of making the country smokefree by 2025.

Ms Snowden said the government needed to continue tax increases on tobacco, make more smokefree environments and reclaim outdoor spaces for non-smokers.