New Zealand's accelerating smoking decline: lessons for tobacco harm reduction

New Zealand has used conventional tobacco-control measures for many years, including policies linked to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The authors report that smoking rates declined slowly at first but began falling more rapidly from 2018/19.

This faster decline coincided with greater uptake of vaping after clearer regulation and endorsement of vaping as a smoking-cessation aid. Adult daily smoking has now levelled at below 7%, while youth smoking remains historically low and youth vaping has declined following tighter regulation. The authors argue that harm reduction alongside established tobacco control may have contributed to New Zealand's progress.

New Zealand provides an important real-world example for discussions about tobacco harm reduction. Its experience includes both established tobacco-control measures and regulated access to vaping products.

Population trends can show what happened over time, but they cannot by themselves prove that one policy or product caused all of the observed change.

Countries trying to reduce smoking can study New Zealand's experience when considering how traditional tobacco control, smoking-cessation support, vaping regulation and youth protection may work together.

The authors argue for harm reduction alongside WHO FCTC measures and proportionate regulation of vaping.

The New Zealand experience may inform policy discussions elsewhere, but differences between countries should be considered before assuming the same results will occur in another population.