AFN 26: New Zealand Challenges Regional Resistance to Harm Reduction
Digital Journal
New Zealand's tobacco sales fell over 20% in 2025, showing regulated vaping supports quitting without hindering progress.Summary
New Zealand’s tobacco sales fell more than 20% in 2025, halving over the past decade, while per‑person consumption dropped nearly 80% since 2010. Over three‑quarters of adults given Health New Zealand‑funded vaping kits quit smoking within four weeks, and officials stress that regulated vaping is less harmful than cigarettes and an effective cessation tool. Policymakers are urged to consider regulated harm‑reduction strategies, protect youth, enforce against illicit markets, and learn from New Zealand’s experience as AFN 26 gathers regional stakeholders.
(Source：Digital Journal)
