The rise and fall of smoking in New Zealand.
The prevalence of cigarette smoking in New Zealand has fallen over the past 20 years to 27% in both men and women. Rates remain high in women aged 15-24 years (33%) and in the Maori population (52% of men and women over 15 years). Tobacco consumption has fallen by 46% since 1975 and New Zealand now has the second lowest consumption of all OECD countries. Coincident with the reduction in smoking, there has been a 37% decline in age-standardised coronary heart disease mortality rates in men and 34% in women between 1968 and 1989. Since 1976 the incidence of lung cancer in men has fallen by 25% but increased by 38% in women. The decline was highest in non-Maori men aged 45-54 years (46%). Life expectancy has increased by four years in both men and women since 1970. New Zealand legislation against smoking was introduced in 1903 and culminated in the 1990 Smoke-free Environments Act. This provides for smoke-free environments, prohibition of tobacco advertising, restrictions on tobacco sponsorship, and the establishment of a Health Sponsorship Council.
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National Heart Foundation of New Zealand.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence