50657 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

50657 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: Was advice sought from Medsafe, clinical trials committees, or ethics committees regarding Health New Zealand's use of vaping devices?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that Health New Zealand did not seek advice from Medsafe, clinical trial committees, or ethics committee regarding its use of vaping devices as a smoking cessation strategy. I am further advised, however, that Health NZ reviewed relevant literature that found evidence that vapes are more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies in helping people quit smoking. Providing free access to vapes as a quit tool is also an action in the plan, Getting to Smokefree 2025.