The Government is taking steps to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced.

'Too many young people are vaping, which is why we're making a number of moves to stop that happening.

'From August this year, all vaping devices sold in New Zealand will need to have removeable or replaceable batteries. This limits the sale of cheap disposable vapes that are popular among young people.

'We also want vapes as far from the minds and reach of children and young people as possible, so any locations within 300 metres of schools and marae will be off-limits for new shops.

'From August, vapes will need child safety mechanisms, and potentially enticing names like ‘cotton candy' and ‘strawberry jelly donut' which accompany far too many products will be prohibited. Only generic names which accurately describe the flavours can be used such as 'berry.”

'We recognise we need to strike a balance between preventing young people from starting to vape, at the same time as having vapes available as a cessation tool for those who genuinely want to give up smoking.

'These new regulations build on protections the Labour Government introduced in 2020, including banning sales to under-18s and prohibiting vape advertising and sponsorship.

'Vaping has played an important role in the record reduction of New Zealanders smoking over the last few years.

'New Zealand's smoking rate is half the rate of what it was 10 years ago, with the number of people smoking falling by 56,000 in the past year.

'We're creating a future where tobacco products are no longer addictive, appealing or as readily available, and the same needs to apply to vaping.”

• From August, there will be a lead in time of 3 months for disposable and 6 months for reusable vapes for the industry to make sure products are compliant with the law.
• Single-use (disposable) vape products which don't meet the new requirements (including child safety mechanisms, removable batteries and reduced nicotine salt levels) will not be able to be sold 3 months after the regulations come into force.
• This timeframe recognises that disposable products have a faster turnaround than reusable products and the increasing use of these products by young people, the subsequent safety risk posed by not having child-safety mechanisms or removable batteries, and their addictiveness.
• Reusable vape products which don't meet the new requirements (including a child safety mechanism and removable batteries) will not be able to be sold 6 months after the regulations come into force.
• This timeframe recognises that reusable products have a slower turnaround than disposable products, so manufacturers and importers have more time to update their products, and retailers have more time to sell through existing stock that does not meet requirements.
• A health promotion push is already underway to encourage young people to live vape free lives. Through a co-design process with rangatahi, Te Whatu Ora developed Protect Your Breath which launched on social media last year.

Phase two will commence soon and will include interactive activities aimed at giving young people giving them useful tools for seeking alternatives to vaping.