The number of 14- and 15-year-olds who smoke daily has dropped sharply in the past decade, according to a survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
Each year, ASH surveys about 30,000 Year 10 students on their smoking habits. Last year, 5.6% of those who responded said they smoked daily; in 1999 the figure was 15.6%.
ASH director Ben Youdan says he expects that number to keep going down.
The survey also found that 18% of Maori girls smoke daily, compared with 4% of Pakeha girls, but 18% is still half what it was a decade ago.
Warren Moetara, the tobacco specialist at the Maori heart foundation Te Hotu Manawa Maori, says while that's still the highest rate of smoking among young people, it's a sign campaigns are working.
Mr Moetara told Waatea News that making smokers feel social outcasts is not the Maori way and that other ways need to be found to help them quit.
'Stop smoking' funding cut
ASH is concerned, however, that the Government's decision to cut $12 million from anti-smoking initiatives over the next four years may lead to fewer people trying to stop smoking.
It says the advertising campaigns have been a factor in encouraging young people to seek help in quitting.
But Health Minister Tony Ryall says that putting up the price of tobacco, as the Government recently did, is a far more effective way of stopping people smoking.
The Ministry of Health says the money has been been cut from funding for programmes run by district health boards and some non-governmental organisations.
Tobacco tax rise seen as factor too
Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia also says the rise in tobacco tax has been a success, pointing to a surge in the number of smokers seeking help from Quitline.
Ms Turia says the number of people registering with Quitline nearly doubled to 7925 after the increase.
She says it's a strong incentive to give up the habit - and the fact that more want to do so, she says, is reflected in an increase of almost 30% in the funding for nicotine replacement therapy since April.
