Questions over where to now, as New Zealand's Smokefree 2025 target turns to ash

Health New Zealand data shows smoking rates fell slightly this year to 6.2 percent, short of the five percent target.

Our rates were steadily decreasing since we made the goal in 2011, before flat-lining in 2023.

Otago University Senior Research Fellow in Public Health, Jude Ball, says there's still lots to do, especially with reducing availability.

She says tobacco kills over half of long term users is still available in six thousand stores nationwide.