The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill has passed the final hurdle in Parliament, reports Radio New Zealand.

The new legislation which will prohibit vaping in the workplace, advertising and sponsorships related to vaping products, as well as the sale of vaping products to under 18s will come into effect from November. According to Radio New Zealand, the bill will also mean retailers such as dairies, service stations or supermarkets will only be allowed to sell tobacco, mint and menthol flavoured vaping products. Specialist vape retailers on the other hand, will still be able to sell a wide range of flavours.
Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa said the bill strikes the right balance "between helping smokers quit by offering regulated vaping as an alternative, while discouraging children and young people from taking it up".
"We know vaping is not without risks but it is 95 percent less harmful than cigarette smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in this country and contributes to the death of an average 5000 New Zealanders every year," said Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa. She also added that the new bill aims to “help smokers quit by offering regulated vaping as an alternative, while discouraging children and young people from taking it up".