New Zealand's youth vaping surge blamed on weak regulation and mixed messages
A University of Auckland researcher says slow, lax vaping laws and government messaging have normalized nicotine use among 15-24-year-olds, with about 138,000 daily vapers.
According to the Ministry of Health’s 2024-2025 health survey, roughly 138,000 New Zealanders aged 15 to 24 vape daily, forming a sizable "vape generation." Lucy Hardie, a research fellow and lecturer at the University of Auckland, attributes this trend to a period of rapid expansion in vape retail, advertising, event sponsorship and influencer promotion around 2018, during which legislative action lagged. When regulations finally arrived, they were comparatively weak, allowing higher nicotine concentrations and industry loopholes.
Hardie criticises government health messages that framed vaping as a safer smoking alternative, saying they inadvertently signalled safety to youth. She emphasizes that addiction, not just long-term health risks, is being overlooked, affecting daily life through cravings and withdrawal. Additionally, she warns that illegal but personally imported nicotine pouches, marketed similarly to vapes, could perpetuate the same addiction cycle.
Why it matters
Youth nicotine addiction threatens public health and highlights gaps in New Zealand's regulatory and education approaches.
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