Smoking in New Zealand

On this page you will find important statistics regarding smoking in New Zealand. Refer to the page regarding smoking publications in NZ if you want to see the actual documents published.

- In 2008, 21-23% of New Zealanders over the age of 15 used tobacco.

- 46% of Maori are regular tobacco users.

- Roughly four thousand one hundred deaths in New Zealand in 2005 were a result of tobacco related illnesses.

- 73% of Maori smokers indicated their preference for ‘roll your own’ tobacco over tailor made cigarettes (the cheaper option of the two).

- Worryingly, smoking is most prevalent among twenty five to twenty nine year old males: 41% of this age group are smokers, while 33% of women ages twenty to twenty four are regular smokers.

- Roughly 20% of those aged fifteen to nineteen are regular smokers. This is especially worrying considering the legal purchase age for tobacco products in New Zealand is eighteen.[1]


[1]Tobacco Trends 2008: A Brief Update of Tobacco Use in New Zealand. Taken from pages 4 to 6.

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