New laws against disposable e-cigarettes come into force in New Zealand

From June 17, 2025, new vaping rules will come into effect in New Zealand, officially ending the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, which are popular with young people. These changes mark the final stage of the Smoke-Free Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No. 2), which was passed in December 2024.[1].

New measures on vaping

Health Minister Casey Costello has confirmed that the sale, manufacture, and distribution of disposable e-cigarettes is now banned. Furthermore, vaping products must be hidden from customer view in retail locations such as supermarkets, gas stations, and convenience stores, in line with the removal of countertops. Finally, online stores can no longer display images of vaping products or redirect to foreign websites that do.

For example, the government says the new regulations would be violated if a store advertised or posted information about vaping products on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Google's business listings.[2].

Vape retailers are now prohibited from using various promotional techniques such as offering free vaping products, discounts, rewards, cashback or gifts for the purchase of vaping products, or offering lotteries or games to people who purchase vaping products.

Penalties include fines of up to NZ$2,000 (€1,047) for companies that breach the new advertising rules, fines of up to NZ$400,000 (around €210,000) for manufacturers, importers or large distributors, and NZ$50,000 (around €26,000) for anyone else who fails to comply.

A strengthened framework to protect young people

The amended Regulated Products and Tobacco-Free Environments Act includes a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, increased penalties for illegal sales to minors, visibility restrictions on vaping products, and new location restrictions for specialty stores.

Some provisions had already been in effect since December, such as fines for sales to minors and the publication of prohibited advertisements. Similarly, new vaping stores were prohibited from opening within 100 meters of childcare facilities. There were also location restrictions stipulating that vaping stores had to be at least 300 meters from schools or marae (sacred sites used for Maori social, religious, and political activities).

The government has voluntarily postponed the ban on disposable e-cigarettes and the rules on product visibility (removal of stalls) by six months, in order to give businesses time to adapt and recruit 18 specialized officers to enforce the law.

" Vaping has helped many adults quit smoking, but it shouldn't be accessible or attractive to young people. » underlines Casey Costello. “ For too long, New Zealand has remained without clear regulations. This government is now taking the necessary steps. ".

The aim is to combat vaping among young people, as the 2023-2024 New Zealand Health Survey found that 10.5% of people aged 15 to 17 vaped daily.[3]Casey Costello said she believed youth vaping would decline further. According to her, Action for Smokefree data shows that youth vaping rates have declined over the past three years. Other reasons cited for the measures include environmental protection, as disposable e-cigarettes are regularly dumped in the environment, are flammable, and are very rarely recycled.[4].

However, she said New Zealand is not ready for a complete ban on vaping products and believes Australia's prescription-only approach will not work in New Zealand.

She adds that Pasifika and Māori continue to have the highest smoking rates, and she says reducing the availability of e-cigarettes to those who do not engage with the health system is problematic.

The country still faces the problem e-cigarettes with misleading nicotine packagingThis could keep smokers addicted to nicotine or even increase the risk.

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[1]Inside Government, New vaping laws ignited from today, published June 17, 2025, accessed June 18, 2025

[2]Dirga Nik, Disposable vape ban and strict advertising rules begin - What you need to know, RNZ, published June 16, 2025, accessed June 18, 2025

[3]Newstalk ZB, NZ unlikely to go prescription route amid crackdown on vaping, published June 17, 2025, accessed June 18, 2025

[4]Whitworth Ava, Disposable vapes banned from Tuesday: What you need to know, Stuff, published June 16, 2025, accessed June 18, 2025

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