Abstract
New Zealand Health Survey (NZHS) data for 2023/2024 were released on 19 November. For the first time in a decade, the prevalence of daily smoking did not decline in Aotearoa, sitting at 6.9% (up from 6.8% in 2022/23).
Furthermore, unacceptable disparities in smoking prevalence persist for Māori, Pacific peoples, and people experiencing higher levels of deprivation. These findings demonstrate that the government’s Smokefree Goal, commonly expressed as daily smoking prevalence falling below 5% for all population groups, is very unlikely to be achieved.
Unless there are dramatic falls in smoking prevalence among Māori, Pacific peoples, and people living in the most deprived areas, we will not reach a daily smoking prevalence of less than 5% for all population groups by 2025.