Source: Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
Just two weeks into the new vaping laws, 125 complaints poured in – and dozens of retailers were caught breaking the rules.
Information released to the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ shows that between 17 and 30 June 2025, Health NZ received 125 complaints and carried out 607 compliance visits. Of those visits, 37 uncovered “clear and obvious breaches” of the law, while a further 42 found “minor compliance issues”, ranging from advertising and vape visibility to non-compliant devices and even sales to underage customers.
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation Chief Executive Ms Letitia Harding says this shows how deeply the problem runs.
“Retailers had months to prepare, yet 125 complaints came in just two weeks.
“It appears that non-compliance is widespread – and, in many cases, deliberate.”
“It appears that non-compliance is widespread – and, in many cases, deliberate.”
Despite these breaches, Health NZ were unable to provide details on the outcome of these complaints as “this is not currently required to be reported”.
However, the agency says a new national system to “enable greater reporting and monitoring of trends” is expected in mid-2026.
Ms Harding says it is unacceptable that the public has no way of knowing whether those caught breaking the rules are being penalised.
“If breaches are found, penalties should follow immediately – and that money should go straight back into education and quit-vaping programmes.”
So, with enforcement lagging and youth exposure continuing, the Foundation has moved to strengthen prevention through its new community Train-the-Trainer programme.
The initiative equips educators, youth workers and whānau advocates with the tools to teach rangatahi about the harms of vaping.
Foundation Community Liaison Officer Sharon Pihema, who has run the Foundation’s vaping workshops in schools for years, is leading the rollout.
“Compliance visits and fines only go so far.
“Real change happens when rangatahi hear the facts from people in their community they know and trust – that’s what this training is about.”
The first certified trainer, Thomasina Samuels of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tamawhariua, says the programme gave her both urgency and confidence.
As a mother of six and a nana to four mokopuna, she says the mahi is personal.
“I want my tamariki and mokopuna to be well informed about the dangers of vape use – the addiction, the mental health connection, and how those barriers can hold back their goals.”
Samuels says her hope is for a ripple effect.
“If just one person takes this information back to their circle of friends, and one more does the same, then the message spreads. That’s how we protect rangatahi.”
Ms Pihema says that scaling the programme is vital.
“The more Foundation-certified Train-the-Trainers we have around the motu, the stronger the prevention network becomes.”
Ms Harding says this is another example of how the Foundation doesn’t just advocate for change, it comes up with solutions.
