Abstract
New Zealand received international attention in 2022 when it passed legislation to end tobacco sales to those born after 2008, essentially creating a smoke-free generation (defined as less than 5% of people smoking). The approach would also have decreased the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels and dramatically decreased the number of retail outlets. The plan had cross-party support including that of the major opposition party (National) which had adopted the 2025 smoke-free goal and supported the subsequent specific measures. The UK government’s plan to introduce similar legislation suggests this approach to be at the vanguard of antitobacco laws internationally. However, a change of government (a coalition of National and two smaller parties) resulted in repeal in 2024, hence New Zealand becomes the latest country—following Bhutan, Russia and Malaysia—to fail in its attempts to legislate tobacco out of the lungs of future generations.