50656 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 04 Nov 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	50656 (2025)
Question asked:	19 Oct 2025
Member asking:	Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Portfolio:	Associate Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Casey Costello
Answer received:	29 Oct 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_50656_2025
Document guid:	ffb1074d-6fcc-4347-9c07-1cbd303a3ca5

50656 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What expert clinical or scientific review has been or will be obtained, if any, concerning the safety, efficacy, and appropriateness of distributing vaping kits in Health New Zealand's smoking cessation programmes?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that a global NGO, Cochrane, has been conducting systematic reviews on the use of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation since 2014. The most recent Cochrane review was published in January 2025 and found strong evidence that vaping helps people to quit smoking more successfully than traditional nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches and gum. I am further advised decisions on the smoking cessation programmes were also informed by feedback gathered from Stop Smoking Services in August 2024.