Tobacco Control and Smoking

Media Releases

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

2009

Nicotine replacement therapy doubles your chances of quitting smoking – cessation expert
A leading quit smoking expert is encouraging smokers to maximise their chances of quitting by using nicotine patches, gum and lozenges available, very cheaply, in New Zealand. Nicotine replacement therapy works by replacing some of the nicotine people get from tobacco, which can reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Face the Facts highlights tragedy of tobacco deaths
Oncologist David Hamilton says it’s a tragedy that 5000 New Zealanders die each year because of tobacco use.

2008

Smoking rates on a downward trend (18 Dec)
The latest survey of smoking in New Zealand confirms that smoking rates are tracking down.

Successful prosecution under smokefree environments act (16 Dec)
On Friday 12 December at the Kaikohe District Court, the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Northland District Health Board successfully prosecuted Rightside Properties, the licensee/proprietors of the Kaikohe Hotel under the Smokefree Environments Act.

New smoking cessation training on its way for New Zealand’s health workforce (28 Nov)
Two new training options will be available for the 100,000-plus healthcare workers in New Zealand in the basics of ABC smoking cessation from early 2009.

Ministry of Health welcomes Commerce Commission warning for tobacco companies (24 Sep)
The Ministry of Health has welcomed today's Commerce Commission warning for tobacco companies, about the use of misleading terms on their packaging.

Rollies no safer than tailor-mades - NZ tobacco research (21 Sep)
A number of roll-your-own (RYO) brands of cigarettes do at least as much harm as a popular tailor-made cigarette, research released by the Ministry of Health shows.

World first Txt2Quit service targets young smokers (www.beehive.govt.nz) (17 Jun)
A new free interactive text message service to help smokers kick their habit has been welcomed by Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor.

Hard hitting anti-smoking ads to strike chord with smokers (www.beehive.govt.nz) (1 Jun)
New hard-hitting television advertisements showing the devastating impact smoking has on the lives of real New Zealanders will screen from today said Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor.

NZ smokefree rate at record low (www.beehive.govt.nz) (30 May)
New Zealand’s smoking rate has fallen to its lowest level since monitoring of tobacco use began more than thirty years ago, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor announced today.

Smoking cessation encouraged for all pregnant women (www.beehive.govt.nz) (14 Mar)
All health professionals play a role in getting people to stop smoking and should be encouraging pregnant women to cease their habit, Associate Minister of Health Damien O’Connor said today.

Graphic health warnings on tobacco products bear the ugly truth (www.beehive.govt.nz) (27 Feb)
New graphic images on tobacco products in New Zealand bear the ugly truth of the effects of smoking, Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said today.

Extensive feedback on tobacco displays welcomed (www.beehive.govt.nz) (26 Feb)
Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor today welcomed the extensive feedback received on the review of tobacco displays in New Zealand.

WHO report finds New Zealand leader in tobacco control (www.beehive.govt.nz) (8 Feb)
Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor said today he is delighted that New Zealand has once again been held up as a leader in the global fight to stop the tobacco epidemic.

Protecting kids from second hand smoke: World Cancer Day (www.beehive.govt.nz) (1 Feb)
Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor today welcomed this year’s World Cancer Day theme, which aims to protect kids from the dangers of second hand smoke.

More health practitioners to join battle against smoking (www.beehive.govt.nz) (31 Jan)
Midwives, dentists and other health practitioners will now be able to distribute cards for subsidised nicotine patches and gum to patients who smoke.

2007

Wider access to subsidised Nicotine Replacement Therapy (17 Dec)
The Ministry of Health will next year be expanding access to the subsidised Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) programme.

Minister welcomes public feedback on tobacco displays (www.beehive.govt.nz) (28 Nov)
The Government is seeking public feedback on a consultation document on the future of tobacco display in New Zealand, Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor announced today.

Global award recognises New Zealand as a leader in tobacco control (www.beehive.govt.nz) (14 Sept)
Associate Health Minister Damien O’Connor said today he is delighted that New Zealand has received further international recognition for its leading role in combating smoking.

Frontline health professionals have key role in cutting smoking rates – O'Connor (www.beehive.govt.nz) (28 Aug)
Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor today launched the latest version of the New Zealand Smoking Cessation Guidelines.

First comprehensive tobacco-use survey supports Government strategy (www.beehive.govt.nz) (28 Jun)
Two-thirds of smokers in New Zealand have tried to quit in the past five years, the first comprehensive survey of New Zealanders' tobacco use shows.

Halving of smoking rate among teens shows Government is on the right track (www.beehive.govt.nz) (25 Jun)
The drop in smoking rates for teenagers over the past eight years is very pleasing and a strong vindication of the priority the Labour-led Government places on tobacco control, Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said today.

O'Connor receives tobacco display ban petition (www.beehive.govt.nz) (21 Jun)
Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor has welcomed a petition calling for the banning of cigarette displays in shops and petrol stations.

Greater use should be made of nicotine replacement therapy – O'Connor (www.beehive.govt.nz) (21 Jun)
Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor has expressed concern at how little attention is being given to available pharmaceutical aids to help surgical patients quit smoking.

Giving up smoking remains the best way for smokers to live longer (12 Jun)
Giving up smoking reduces people's chances of dying from chronic diseases including smoking related lung diseases, cardiovascular disease and smoking-related cancers, the Ministry of Health says.

Teen smokers wouldn't smoke if they had their life again (31 May)
Preliminary Ministry of Health research indicates that almost three quarters of 15-19 year olds who currently smoke say that if they had their life again they would not smoke.

Kick it in the Butt (www.beehive.govt.nz) (31 May)
Today is as good time as any to think about the choices you make as a young person says Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta on World Smokefree Day.

Budget 07: New funding to step up fight against tobacco (www.beehive.govt.nz) (24 May)
Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor today announced substantial new funding in Budget 2007 to boost New Zealand's ongoing battle against the tobacco epidemic.

Countdown to graphic pictorial warnings on cigarette packets begins (www.beehive.govt.nz) (27 Feb)
The tobacco industry has exactly 12 months to meet new regulations for pictorial warnings on cigarette packets, Associate Minister of Health Damien O'Connor says.

2006

Ministry of Health releases latest tobacco trends (18 Dec)
The Ministry of Health has today released its annual Tobacco Trends publication (formerly Tobacco Facts). Tobacco Trends 2006 provides the most up to date statistics on smoking prevalence and consumption in New Zealand.

9 out of 10 Kiwis support the right to live and work in a smokefree environment (www.beehive.govt.nz) (9 Dec)
It's been two years since bars and restaurants have been smokefree and nine out of ten New Zealanders support the right to live and work in a smokefree environment, a report released today by Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor shows.

Nine in 10 homes with children smokefree (www.beehive.govt.nz) (21 Nov)
Around nine out of 10 homes with children in them are smokefree, figures released today by the Health Sponsorship Council for the Ministry of Health show.

Graphic warnings for cigarette packets (www.beehive.govt.nz) (2 Nov)
Graphic images of the kinds of damage smoking can cause will cover cigarette packets from early 2008.

Auckland Dairy Owner Convicted of Selling Illegal Chewing Tobacco (18 Oct)
The Ministry of Health has successfully prosecuted an Auckland dairy owner for illegally selling chewing tobacco.

Growing support for smoking ban (www.beehive.govt.nz) (1 Oct)
More New Zealanders than ever support the ban on smoking in pubs, bars and nightclubs, according to a survey for the Ministry of Health.

World Conference on Tobacco (www.beehive.govt.nz) (12 Jul)
Initiatives arising from an international conference on reducing harm associated with tobacco could have major benefits in New Zealand, Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor says.

Reality TV quit smoking campaign will capture imaginations (www.beehive.govt.nz) (3 Jul)
Using a reality TV campaign to help people quit smoking is an inspired move, Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor said today.

Graphic warnings on the horizon for smokers (www.beehive.govt.nz) (10 May)
Images of rotting gums and teeth, throat cancer and gangrenous feet are about to be put before New Zealanders as the government continues its effort to reduce smoking rates.

2005

Successful prosecution under Smokefree Environment Amendment Act (16 Dec)
The Ministry of Health is very happy with the result of a court case in which a publican faced charges under the Smokefree Environment Amendment Act.

Smoking rates continue to decline, with promising signs for Māori (30 Sept)
Initiatives to reduce smoking in New Zealand are continuing to produce reductions in the number of people smoking and the amount of tobacco they consume.

World Smokefree Day of special significance in New Zealand this year (31 May)
World Smokefree Day 2005 is of special significance in New Zealand - it's the first World Smokefree Day since the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act came into force last December. And health has been the clear winner from that move.

Ministry of Health pleased with chewing tobacco prosecution (21 Jan)
The Ministry of Health is hoping the conviction of Babu Vallabh Ranchhod for selling chewing tobacco sends a deterrent message to others involved in the importation or sale of chewing tobacco.

Website feedback
We welcome your feedback on this page.

Page last updated: 2 June 2009