Health researchers welcoming new plain packaging for cigarettes say still more needs to be done to make New Zealand smoke-free by 2025.
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The new olive green packets with large warning signs and graphic pictures, became law yesterday, but retailers have until June to shift the old branded stock.
There are 14 new images including ones of open heart surgery, black lungs, and children in a car full of smoke.
Otago University professor of public health, Janet Hoek, said the government should do more campaigns and further restrict sales to promote the smokefree message.
Ms Hoek said the warnings on the packets also need to be updated often, as the last images were the same for 10 years.
"It's really important that the Ministry put in place a programme so that they are continually evaluating new warning messages and images," she said.
