Daily e-cigarette users surge to 480,000 in New Zealand

On November 19, the New Zealand Ministry of Health announced the results of the 2023-2024 health survey, which monitored smoking and e-cigarette use among people aged 15 and over.

The survey showed that about 6.9% (300,000) adults smoked daily in 2023/24, down from 12.9% five years ago. The daily use rate of e-cigarettes has gradually increased from 0.9% in 2015/16, and has increased significantly since 2020/21. By 2023/24, the proportion of people who use e-cigarettes daily has increased to 11.1%, compared with the previous period. An increase of 9.7% in 2016, it is estimated that 480,000 adults in New Zealand currently use e-cigarettes every day, up from 33,000 in 2015/16.

The New Zealand Health Survey also compared smoking and e-cigarette use, showing that smoking rates fell across all age groups, while e-cigarette use increased. In the 15-17 and 18-24 age groups, the growth of e-cigarettes exceeds the decrease in smoking, and young people tend to choose e-cigarettes with lower risks. Among the adult group (25-64 years old), the increase in e-cigarette use corresponds to the decrease in smoking. Currently, the number of people in the 15-44 age group who use e-cigarettes every day exceeds the number of smokers, while the situation in the 45-64 age group is slightly different. Among the elderly group aged 65 and above, the smoking rate is still high. Daily vaping increased in all deprived quintiles from 2015/16 to 2023/24.

Undersecretary of Health Casey Costello noted, “Survey data overwhelmingly shows that significant progress has been made in recent years in reducing the number of smokers, particularly Māori and youth smoking. Early next year I will submit proposals to the government to establish better regulations for all nicotine and tobacco products. Regulatory system to achieve a consistent and applicable harm reduction system.”