New Zealand's 'vaping to quit smoking' initiative sparks controversy

New Zealand’s Smokefree 2025 plan has come under renewed scrutiny over its decision to fund vaping starter kits as a smoking cessation tool. Health organisations and experts are divided over whether this approach will deliver the intended public health benefits as there is no strong scientific evidence that vaping helps people quit smoking.

Free vaping kits distributed to smokers

As part of the Smokefree 2025 plan, since 1^er January 2025, vaping kits are being made available free of charge to adult smokers in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health has highlighted that vaping is a less harmful alternative to smoking and can be used as a transition tool for people trying to quit smoking. This initiative is part of New Zealand's broader public health goals to reduce the prevalence of smoking, particularly in vulnerable communities such as Māori and Pasifika, who are disproportionately affected by tobacco-related illnesses.[1].

The kits include a vaping device and a one-month supply of nicotine pods, with recipients receiving additional pods for up to three months. The initiative is combined with behavioural support to help smokers quit traditional cigarettes. It draws on evidence from international health organisations that support vaping as a method to reduce smoking.

Health NZ spokeswoman Deborah Woodley said daily smoking prevalence rates had declined significantly in New Zealand over the past decade.

“Individual behavioural support, nicotine replacement therapies and this new investment programme to help smokers switch to vaping, together with compliance and enforcement, health promotion activities and our existing funding for smoking cessation – this combination of actions has contributed positively to this reduction.”[2] she said.

And to add "The latest Cochrane review shows with high certainty that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) in helping people quit smoking "The majority of Health NZ funded quit smoking service providers have chosen to offer the government funded vaping starter kits.

A controversial initiative according to some health professionals

The initiative has been criticized by health professionals. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) has expressed concern about the lack of robust evidence that vaping is a safe and effective method for long-term smoking cessation. Professionals say the policy could unintentionally normalize vaping, particularly among young people, which could have problematic public health implications.

RNZCGP chair Samantha Murton called for a more cautious approach, stressing the need for clear guidelines to ensure vaping kits are used appropriately. "We are not opposed to harm reduction " she said, "but we must be careful not to create new problems."

General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) said a New Zealand study[3] A 2023 study evaluating a “vaping to quit smoking” initiative had only limited success. Only 16% of participants were no longer smoking or vaping at the end of the program.

One third of participants gave up smoking for vaping, and 22% of participants were both smokers and vapers at the end of the program.

Similarly, opposition parties and some public health experts have questioned the government’s focus on vaping. They say resources could be better spent on proven smoking cessation methods or broader public health campaigns that address the root causes of smoking. Letitia Harding, chief executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, said the use of vapes to quit smoking was controversial: "These products have not been approved for smoking cessation by the World Health Organisation, the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) or Medsafe here in New Zealand."

Health Minister Close to Tobacco Industry

New Zealand Health Minister Casey Costello has recently attracted attention for her tobacco industry-related decisions. In July 2024, she announced a 50% reduction in excise duty on heated tobacco products, a move supported by industry players such as Philip Morris, who have been advocating for tax breaks on these products for several years. The move has been criticised by public health experts, who fear it could undermine the country’s “Smokefree 2025” goal. In addition, the Labour Party, represented by Dr Ayesha Verrall, has called for the minister to resign, saying her decisions could be perceived as influenced by industry interests. Documents also mention the use of tobacco industry data to justify certain policies, fuelling debate around the management of this issue.[4].

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[1] Vaping kits to be made free for smokers to help them quit, RNZ, published December 31, 2024, accessed the same day

[2] GP organization concerned about funded vaping kits, part of Smokefree 2025 plan, RNZ, published 21 January 2025, accessed the same day

[3] Burrowes KS, Fuge C, Murray T, Amos J, Pitama S, Beckert L. An evaluation of a New Zealand "vape to quit smoking" program. NZ Med J. 2022 Sep 2;135(1561):45-55. doi:10.26635/6965.5545. PMID: 36049789

[4] Tobacco-free generation, New Zealand: Labour Party calls for resignation of tobacco industry minister Costello, published October 5, 2024, accessed January 21, 2025