World first: Vaping product now in pharmacies

Believed to be a world-first, a vaping system branded specifically for the healthcare sector is now available in many pharmacies throughout New Zealand.

The off-the-shelf product, branded Vapix, is marketed to smokers over 18 years of age, encouraging them to ‘Make The Switch’.

More Vapo stores and a world-first testing station

Australasian vaping brand Vapo now has 11 stores nationwide, with Sylvia Park and NorthWest the latest additions for Auckland, and Nelson now home to the South Island’s second Vapo store.

1 NEWS OIA release on tobacco sales cause for hope - Hapai Te Hauora

Yesterday a journalist from 1 NEWS published statistics reflecting the sharp decline in tobacco sales since 2016.

NZ Customs collects more than $15 billion for Crown in the past year

Customs collected $15.543 billion in revenue on behalf of the Crown in the year to 30 June 2019 - up 8.1 per cent, or just over $1 billion, on the previous 12-month period.

Portugal bad example for drug advocates in NZ - McCoskrie

Portugal has been painted by pro-cannabis legalisation groups as a model to follow. Yet just last month, the mayor of Porto contradicted his previous pro-harm reduction position and endorsed reintroducing criminal penalties for drug use in public spaces.

Falling smoking rates prove vaping’s value says vaping association

The latest statistics released by the Health Promotion Agency showing a dramatic fall in the numbers of cigarettes being sold in supermarkets, service stations, and liquor stores are being welcomed by the Vaping Trade Association of New Zealand (VTANZ).

Housing costs push up annual inflation - Stats NZ

The consumers price index (CPI) increased 1.5 percent in the September 2019 year, influenced by higher prices for rents, and cigarettes and tobacco, Stats NZ said today.

This increase was partly offset by decreasing prices for vegetables, petrol, and telecommunications equipment.

Appeal for information following robbery in Whakatane

Whakatane Police are appealing for information after a robbery at the Avenue Dairy on Alexander Avenue at 3.30pm on Saturday 12 October.

Four offenders, some armed with weapons, entered the dairy and stole cigarettes and tobacco.

Smoking becoming a dying habit in Aotearoa - Hapai Te Hauora

Hāpai Te Hauora is quietly celebrating the release of Census 2018 figures which shows a drop in the proportion of regular smokers aged 15 years and over decreasing to 13.2 per cent, compared to the 2013 Census figures of 15.1 per cent.

'Local vape industry is fighting only to stop tobacco'

By Jonathan Devery

For several years New Zealand’s vape industry has been calling for regulation. It was somewhat frustrating then when Leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges, issued a media statement recently claiming that vape companies were "coming together to stop restrictions".