Smokefree Law Change - Vaping

The laws in New Zealand around vaping have changed. From 11 November 2020 vaping is prohibited at all times in schools, kura kaupapa, kōhanga reo and early childhood centres (including their grounds and buildings). We will be updating our school signage to reflect this change before the end of the term.

The Health promotion Agency for New Zealand (hpa.org.nz) states:

Vaping and schools

The reality is that more young people are trying vaping. Here’s what we know from research about young people and vaping in New Zealand:

  • Results from the New Zealand 2019 ASH Year 10 Snapshot survey (a nationally representative survey of Year 10 students, predominately aged 14 and 15 years) showed that 3% of students were daily vapers and 12% of students were current vapers (vaped at least monthly). 
  • Daily use of e-cigarettes/vapes among young people is rare and is largely confined to those who have smoked.
  • Although young people are experimenting with vaping, smoking rates among young people are continuing to drop in New Zealand. It is not possible to say from the current evidence that vaping is associated with initiation of smoking and normalisation of smoking behaviour.

Vaping and the law

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 commenced on 11 November 2020, amending the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 and renaming it to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990.

From 11 November 2020 vaping is prohibited at all times in schools, kura kaupapa, kōhanga reo and early childhood centres (including their grounds and buildings). This means they are smokefree and vape free and school management/boards must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that no person smokes or vapes in any part of the premises, whether inside or outside, at any time of day. From 11 May 2021, all schools, kura kaupapa, kōhanga reo, early childhood education facilities in addition to the existing requirement to display ‘no smoking’ notices/signage will be required to display ‘no vaping’ notices/signage. Read the Ministry of Health’s website for further information.

The new Act strikes a balance between ensuring vaping products are available for smokers who want to use them to reduce the harm to their health, and making sure these products aren’t marketed or sold to non-smokers, especially young people.

Read more on vaping law and policy at Vaping Facts.