Letter4
I am writing today to ask you, as a Member of the Health Committee, to help protect our access to healthier tobacco alternatives in the Smokefree Bill. I was a smoker for a long time. But the governments proactive and sensible approach to less harmful alternatives enabled me to kick the habit and live a […]
Letter3
Dear Members of the Health Committee, I am writing today to encourage the Committee protect the status of vapes and e-cigarettes in the Smokefree Bill. New Zealand is leading the world, creating a Smokefree future. And we’ve already made fantastic progress towards the Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 goal. But vaping is big reason why New Zealand’s […]
Letter2
Dear Members of the Health Committee, I am writing today to encourage the Committee to make vapes and e-cigarettes accessible to adult smokers as a part of the Smokefree Bill. Recent reports have raised concerns that a small minority of dairy owners are allowing under 18’s to purchase vapes. Nobody wants to see children vaping […]
Letter1
Dear Members of the Health Committee, I’m writing today to urge you to ensure that measures are taken to protect vaping in the Smokefree Bill. I have seen the benefits of switching from combustible tobacco to an e-cigarette first hand. And I know many other people in our country have benefited from making the same […]
Smokefree Action Plan fails to elevate vaping
A leading vaping advocate says the Government’s smokefree action plan has failed to fully recognise vaping as a viable alternative for Kiwi smokers keen to quit. “Vaping has been key to reducing our national smoking rate. Encouraging more smokers to switch to much safer and less expensive nicotine alternatives is critical to achieving smokefree. Sadly, […]
Youth19 vaping survey – dated, disingenuous and damaging
A recently released Youth19 survey which questioned Auckland, Northland, and Waikato secondary school students on vaping was conducted prior to Parliament passing the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act last year and well before many significant regulations came into force, says Nancy Loucas, co-director of the Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA). “Recent commentary […]
MOH stop-smoking guidelines ignore the best way!
The Ministry of Health’s latest stop-smoking guidelines are disappointing. They do not include the vape option for smoking cessation providers to discuss with Kiwis keen to quit cigarettes, says New Zealand’s leading Tobacco Harm Reduction consumer group. ‘The New Zealand Guidelines for Helping People to Stop Smoking’ acknowledge that vaping can contribute to Smokefree 2025, […]
Alarming! Lockdown forces more Kiwis back to cigarettes
New Zealand’s lockdown has seen many ex-smokers return to cigarettes. Stress or boredom are often to blame, but brand-new retail restrictions on vape products are also having a negative impact, says the country’s leading Tobacco Harm Reduction consumer group. The group’s comments follow mental health experts warning that the extended lockdown could be having a […]
New regs: Terrible timing for vape businesses and consumers
New Zealand’s costly vape regulations will drive many small to medium-sized businesses to the wall. Rising prices will also leave many vapers with little choice but to return to deadly cigarettes, says the country’s leading Tobacco Harm Reduction consumer group. The Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) says the impact of the August timing is compounded […]
Vape flavour ban only penalises adults keen to quit smoking
New Zealand’s 11 August vape flavour ban for general retailers will sadly cost lives, making it harder for adults desperate to quit smoking, says the country’s leading consumer vaping advocacy. With the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act passing last year, general retailers such as supermarkets, service stations and convenience stores can now […]