It's happening as smoking rates fall in the United States.

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has been ruthless in his crackdown on suspected drug dealers in his country and now he has banned smoking.

Smoking is now much more of a rarity thanks to amendments in the smoke-free Environments Act and new 10 per cent a year tax rise.

COMMENT: Government now have time to look at the scientific evidence suggesting nicotine e-cigarettes could benefit New Zealand's half million smokers.

Vape shops, pharmacies picked for first sales, then maybe supermarkets

Maori Party co-leader and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says he is sick and tired of attending tangi of Maori who have died as a result

Today's young generation of Maori smokers will have grown to at least middle-age before the high-risk habit is a rarity for their race.

COMMENT: Cigarette companies are proof that, if you get an early start, you join the ranks of the respectable. Safe for lifetime after lifetime.

If our environment is supportive of good health, it's much easier for us to be healthy, and Healthy Families Whanganui Rangitikei

Researchers at Otago University have found that electronic cigarettes pose potential health risks to users.

OPINION: It wasn't the fear of developing a life-threatening disease that got Polly Gillespie to kick the habit.

New Zealand's biggest anti-smoking lobby groups face likely closure after a Government decision to slash funding for anti-smoking advocacy.

British American Tobacco's New Zealand business has lost responsibility for strategic decisions.

Richard Edwards and Janet Hoek suggest the next targets in the campaign against smoking should be dairies and other outlets selling tobacco products.

COMMENT: Smoking is the filthy-rich, tax dodging, environment-trashing capitalist pig of vices, writes Paul Thomas.

A pack of 20 cigarettes will increase from about $20 now to around $30 in 2020 after hefty new excise increases were announced as part of the Budget.

Researchers are planning to use images of women's own unborn babies to warn them against the dangers of smoking during pregnancy.

A British medical organisation has called for the promotion of e-cigarettes as a safe alternative to smoking.

Firms making e-cigarettes could be ripping off customers.

Parliament heard today that further tax hikes should be introduced over the next few years to curb smoking rates, which are around 17 per cent.

The Government ought to ensure plain packaging legislation is brought before Parliament in order to protect the health of New Zealand children.

Here's four things I've learned about quitting.

Quitting smoking? Actually pretty easy.

I was, as they say in Palmerston North, totally maggot.

One week to go - only one week until I can go back to smoking 20 cigarettes a day.