Reformed smokers support measures NZ Govt dropped, new research reveals

In a just-published study, nearly 83% of almost 2000 smokers – or newly reformed ones – told University of Otago researchers they backed banning the sale of tobacco products to people born after a certain date to create a “smokefree generation”.

• A new study has found overwhelming support for a “smokefree generation” and non-addictive cigarette policies among people who smoke or recently quit.
• More than eight in 10 of current or recently reformed smokers backed a ban on selling tobacco to people born after a certain date, while three-quarters supported only having very low-nicotine cigarettes available for purchase.
• Researchers say the new findings call into question the Government’s moves to abandon the measures – some of which have been picked up other countries.

Kiwis who have recently quit smoking have sounded support for New Zealand going smoke-free – and also taking addictive nicotine out of sold cigarettes.

In a just-published study, nearly 83% of almost 2000 smokers – or newly reformed ones – told University of Otago researchers they backed banning the sale of tobacco products to people born after a certain date to create a “smokefree generation”.

A further 75% also backed only having very-low nicotine cigarettes available for purchase, while just over 35% supported substantial reductions in the number of retailers able to sell tobacco.

All three of those policies were world-first moves when introduced in legislation in 2023 but were soon after controversially scrapped by the coalition Government amid a partial repeal.

Study leader Dr Janine Nip said they had much more support among respondents who’d recently quit than those still smoking.

The study, published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal, also found almost 57% of respondents supported the Smokefree Aotearoa goal of fewer than 5% of Kiwis smoking daily by 2025.

Despite public health efforts, an estimated 363,000 New Zealanders still smoke and it remains the country’s leading cause of preventable death.

In a further insight, about 50% of the respondents said they’d lower their smoking, quit or switch to vaping if only very-low nicotine cigarettes were available and there were greater restrictions on retailers.

“This shows these measures have the potential to significantly reduce smoking prevalence and to do it equitably,” said co-author Professor Richard Edwards, of the ASPIRE Aotearoa Research Centre.

He said the findings called into question the Government’s move to abandon the measures.

“Other countries, like the UK and the US, are now moving ahead of Aotearoa in introducing these measures to protect their people from tobacco-related harm.”

The study comes weeks after public health researchers warned the 2025 goal would become in jeopardy if smoking rates continued to flatline.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has however maintained the Government is committed to it, with a “final push” to get 80,000 people to quit – although no new funding would be devoted to it.

She told the Herald late last year that a similar-sized reduction had been achieved in 2022/23 with the same pot of funding, proving the same could be done this year.

She added the new plan would incorporate a refreshed marketing campaign and have a strong focus on enforcement targeting the point of sale.

Diabetes cases may stretch health system to ‘breaking point’

In another study in today’s New Zealand Medical Journal, researchers have warned more than half a million Kiwis could have diabetes by 2044.

The new modelling was based on existing trends for both type 1 and type 2 – and if trends continued, numbers would be almost 90% higher, or 502,000 compared with 268,000 last decade, within 20 years.

After adjusting for population changes, the Otago and Waikato university researchers found there would be a 30% jump in the underlying rates of diabetes.

The increase was highest for Pacific people, with one in six females and one in seven males having diabetes by 2044.

The authors called for diabetes prevention and management strategies tailored for Pacific, Māori and Asian populations, recommending “immediate and bold action” to address trends that will otherwise overwhelm the health system.

“The projected increases ... are likely to stretch our health system to breaking point, if not beyond, and as such, immediate and bold action is required to stem the tide of diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses.”

Jamie Morton is a specialist in science and environmental reporting. He joined the Herald in 2011 and writes about everything from conservation and climate change to natural hazards and new technology.

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