An increasing number of New Zealanders are turning to Quitline for help to break their vaping habit, as concerns grow about nicotine dependence and the long-term health impacts of vaping, particularly among young people. Quitline says demand for its quit vaping services has continued to rise as more people seek support to become both smokefree and vapefree.
The trend comes as vaping remains widespread across Aotearoa. Recent health data shows more than half a million New Zealanders vape daily, with rates highest among younger age groups, Māori and Pacific communities.
Quitline has expanded its services in recent years to support people who want to stop vaping, including those who do not smoke tobacco. The programme provides coaching, personalised quit plans and ongoing support to help people reduce and ultimately stop nicotine use.
Health experts say many people initially began vaping as a way to quit smoking cigarettes but are now finding themselves dependent on nicotine through vaping products. While vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking, health authorities continue to stress that it is not risk-free and that the healthiest outcome is to be both smokefree and vapefree.
The rise in demand for quit vaping support comes as regulators continue tightening rules around vaping products. Recent measures include restrictions on disposable vapes, product marketing, flavour names and retail visibility, aimed at reducing youth uptake while still supporting smokers who are using vaping as a pathway away from tobacco.
Public health advocates say vaping has played a significant role in reducing smoking rates across New Zealand, but there is growing concern about the number of young people who have become regular vape users despite never having smoked cigarettes.
Māori health providers are also closely monitoring vaping trends, with Māori continuing to experience some of the highest rates of vaping in the country. Health leaders say culturally appropriate support services will remain critical if Aotearoa is to reduce nicotine dependence and improve long-term health outcomes.
Quitline says the growing number of people seeking help demonstrates that many New Zealanders are ready to move beyond vaping and are looking for practical support to manage nicotine addiction and maintain long-term behavioural change. Research shows people who access structured quit services are more likely to successfully stop nicotine use than those attempting to quit alone.
Health organisations say the challenge now is balancing efforts to prevent youth vaping while ensuring adults who want to quit smoking or vaping continue to have access to effective support services.
