Deputy Health Minister Casey Costello is meeting with all smoking cessation service providers across the country this week to ensure New Zealand achieves its smoke-free target by 2025.

Regional fixtures begin in Wellington today, followed by Christchurch (Wednesday), Rotorua (Thursday) and Auckland (Friday).

“The forums will be part of a comprehensive plan to increase the number of people quitting smoking and achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal,” Ms Costello said.

“New Zealand has seen one of the largest declines in smoking rates in the world in recent years and we want to build on the practical tools and approaches that have proven effective.”

The New Zealand Health Survey, released in December last year, showed 55,000 smokers quit in the year to June 2023, and the rate of daily smoking fell to 6.8 per cent from 8.6 per cent the previous year and 16.4 per cent in 2011/12, when the survey began. If these trends continue, New Zealand will meet its smoke-free headline target of fewer than 5 per cent of the population smoking every day by 2025.

“Stop smoking service providers are integral to supporting Smokefree’s goals,” says Ms Costello. “The data shows that people are around four times more likely to quit smoking using a stop smoking service than trying on their own.

“Providers are people who know their communities and how to best direct resources to where they are most needed, particularly in areas and groups where smoking rates are higher.

“The Coalition Government is committed to improving health outcomes. We want to ensure smokers have the information, tools and support to quit, and this week’s meetings with providers will underpin our refreshed Smokefree Action Plan.”