Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Cigarette price increase

Updated at 10:28 am on 1 January 2012

Cigarettes rose in price on 1 January, for the third time in 21 months.

The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes is now about $14 and a pouch of loose tobacco is about $31.

The Quit Group estimates each smoker costs the economy $139,000 per year in health and other costs.

Chief executive Paula Snowden says the group returns $38 to the economy for every $1 it is funded, but has had no increase since 2007.

She expects the price increase to save the economy up to $73 million.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand