Kōrero: Teenagers and youth

Students smoke in Albert Park, Auckland, in August 2005. Efforts to reduce smoking in youths are especially important as most adult smokers began smoking in their youth and once addicted to nicotine typically smoke for 40 years. Rates of smoking among teenagers has dropped in New Zealand since this photo was taken. In 2012 only 6% of teenagers were regular smokers; a drop of 8% since 2006/7. The drop is attributed to anti-smoking campaigns but also to the rise in the cost of cigarettes due to increased taxation.