New Zealand: Towards a treatment program for e-cigarette addiction

A treatment for quitting vaping, Nicorette QuickMist, has been authorized by the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, Medsafe.[1]. This is the first nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) also indicated for nicotine addiction related to e-cigarettes. Until now, this product, available for years, was only authorized for traditional smoking cessation.

According to the Asthma and Respiratory Disease Foundation In New Zealand, this official recognition marks an important step, given that nicotine addiction no longer only affects smokers, but also vapers. However, while the Foundation hopes to better regulate vaping and do more to prevent its initiation, this seems unlikely under a pro-vaping government with proven ties to the industry.

The need for treatment of nicotine addiction linked to vaping, which is on the rise, particularly among young people

The Foundation emphasizes that nicotine addiction induced by vaping is a growing public health problem, and that this decision underlines this.

Figures from the Foundation's national survey on vaping, conducted among more than 11,300 school-aged youth in 2024, revealed that 19.7% of first-year students and 26.1% of final-year students reported vaping in the seven days prior to the survey – a significant increase compared to the 2021 survey, where these figures were 16.8% and 12.6% respectively.[2].

According to the organization, these results reinforce the need for clinically validated treatments to support people addicted to electronic cigarettes who want to stop using them.

Calls for stricter regulation of vaping

The authorization of Nicorette QuickMist by the Medsafe agency, which reports to the Ministry of Health, represents a shift in the country's public policies regarding vaping products.

While welcoming this decision, the Foundation points out that these smoking cessation measures do not prevent initiation into vaping, particularly for non-smokers.

She continues to advocate for stricter regulations, including a freeze on the opening of new specialist outlets, a ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes in general stores, increased investment in educational programs and a review of the prescription model for vaping products.

This decision comes within an international context of drastically strengthening regulations on vaping products due to evolving usage patterns and growing awareness of their toxicity. When countries do not outright ban these products, they are developing restrictions inspired by the provisions applied to tobacco products, as outlined in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Specific taxes are applied to limit accessibility and better control supply. In addition, measures relate to product composition, including a ban on flavorings, limits on nicotine content, the requirement for plain packaging, and a general ban on all advertising.

Regulatory measures that do not meet with the support of pro-vaping governments

New Zealand, like the United Kingdom, has long viewed e-cigarettes as a potential smoking cessation tool. However, the previous government had adopted a very clear stance on tobacco control with the announcement of the first generational ban on tobacco.

The current Minister of Health, Casey Costello, whose ties to the tobacco industry are well-documented, nevertheless repealed this legislation. Her stance on new tobacco and nicotine products has been particularly criticized, as she has, for example, promoted e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products as alternatives to cigarettes, conflating these products.

The measures taken by the current New Zealand government have thus prevented the country to achieve its "Smoke-free 2025" goal«, aiming to achieve less than 5,130 daily smokers across all population groups by the end of 2025.

One of the main explanations for this observation is that The rise in vaping has contributed to halting the decline in traditional smoking. among young people.

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[1]Health organization welcomes first medically-approved quit vaping product, renews call for tougher laws, New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online, published on January 30, 2026, accessed the same day

[2]Vaping in New Zealand Youth Survey 2024, Asthma Respiratory Foundation NZ, accessed January 30, 2026

National Committee Against Smoking |