Smoking

Three out of four New Zealanders do not smoke.
The highest prevalence of smoking is in the 25-34 year age group, for both men and women.
In the 1990s smoking rates have increased among people in the 25-34 year age group but declined or remained much the same in other age groups.
According to the most recent household survey, just over one in five NZ Europeans/other people, one in three Pacificans and one in two Maori were cigarette smokers.
Maori women remain the leading smoking group with more than twice the number of smokers compared to women in the total New Zealand population.
The prevalence of smoking in younger Maori is markedly higher than in the total population.
At least one third of the shorter life expectancy of those living in the most deprived areas is accounted for by tobacco consumption.
The total consumption of tobacco products declined by 57% between 1970 and 2000.
Manufactured cigarette consumption declined by 39% in the past decade but loose tobacco consumption increased by 21%.
The number of cigarettes smoked per smoker aged 15+ has declined from 20 per day in 1990 to 14 per day in 1999.
In 1998 New Zealand had the second lowest tobacco product consumption of any OECD country. Sweden's consumption was lower.
Cigar tobacco consumption has increased during the 1990s.
Regionally, the areas with high smoking prevalence are the central and eastern North Island.