An examination of smoking initiation rates by age: results from a large longitudinal study in New Zealand.

Objective: Investigations of smoking initiation often focus on the experiences of children and youth. However, prevalence data from the Tobacco Use Surveys (TUS) and the New Zealand (NZ) census suggest substantial uptake of smoking occurs after 15 years of age, including among young adults aged 18-24 years. Identifying initiation rates is difficult using cross-sectional prevalence data, particularly among older age groups, which are subject to cohort effects and where quitting and premature mortality reduce prevalence.

Qualitative exploration of public and smoker understanding of, and reactions to, an endgame solution to the tobacco epidemic.

Background: There is increasing interest in ending the tobacco epidemic and in applying 'endgame' solutions to achieve that goal at national levels. We explored the understanding of, and reactions to, a tobacco-free vision and an endgame approach to tobacco control among New Zealand smokers and non-smokers.

Methods: We recruited participants in four focus groups held in June 2009: Māori (indigenous people) smokers (n=7); non-Māori smokers (n=6); Māori non-smokers (n=7); and non-Māori non-smokers (n=4).

Support for a tobacco endgame and increased regulation of the tobacco industry among New Zealand smokers: results from a National Survey.

Aim: To examine the prevalence of smoker support for a ban on cigarette sales in 10 years time and increased regulation of the tobacco industry and to investigate the independent associations of support for these measures.

Methods: The authors surveyed opinions among adult smokers in two survey waves (N=1376 and N=923) from the New Zealand arm of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Survey during 2007-2009. The authors report prevalence of support stratified by age, gender and ethnicity.

Parental behaviours, but not parental smoking, influence current smoking and smoking susceptibility among 14 and 15 year-old children.

Objective: To explore whether parental behaviours related to smoking socialisation and parenting are associated with smoking susceptibility and current smoking in 14-15 year old students.

Method: Data were sourced from the New Zealand 2006 Year 10 In-depth Survey, a school-based survey of 3,189 students. Outcome measures were susceptibility to smoking and current smoking.

Setting a good example? Changes in smoking prevalence among key occupational groups in New Zealand: evidence from the 1981 and 2006 censuses.

Introduction: Role modeling by smokers may influence smoking among children and young adults. Most work on smoking by occupation has focused on health workers. A unique opportunity to explore smoking by occupation is presented in New Zealand (NZ) due to inclusion of a smoking status question in most national censuses since 1976.

Smokers have varying misperceptions about the harmfulness of menthol cigarettes: national survey data.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of menthol use and perceptions of relative harmfulness among smokers in an ethnically diverse population where tobacco marketing is relatively constrained (New Zealand).

Methods: The New Zealand (NZ) arm of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Survey (ITC Project) utilises the NZ Health Survey (a national sample). From this sample we surveyed adult smokers, with Wave 2 (n=923) covering beliefs around menthol cigarettes.

Survey of descriptors on cigarette packs: still misleading consumers?

Aim: In September 2008, the New Zealand (NZ) Commerce Commission issued a warning to the major tobacco companies to remove "light" and "mild" descriptors from cigarette packaging. Despite published evidence that suggested tobacco companies had started colour-coding their packs in anticipation of the Commission's decision, the investigation did not consider more general misleading packaging. This study explored changes in tobacco packaging that had been introduced to the New Zealand market, by surveying descriptors used on cigarette packs after the Commerce Commission's warning.

Distribution of new graphic warning labels: Are tobacco companies following regulations?

Objective: To test the hypothesis that tobacco companies would not follow a regulation that required seven new graphic health warnings (GHWs) to be evenly distributed on cigarette packs and that they would distribute fewer packs featuring warnings regarded by smokers as being more disturbing.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of purchased packs (n = 168) and street-collected discarded packs (convenience sample of New Zealand cities and towns, n = 1208 packs) with statistical analysis of seven types of new GHWs. A priori warning impact was judged using three criteria, which were tested against data from depth interviews with retailers.

Misperceptions of "light" cigarettes abound: national survey data.

Background: Many smokers believe that "light" cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes, which is at variance with the scientific evidence. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) aims to address this problem in Article 11 which deals with misleading labelling of tobacco products. In this study we aimed to determine smokers' use and beliefs concerning "light" and "mild" cigarettes ("lights"), including in relation to ethnicity, deprivation and other socio-demographic characteristics.

Trends in colorectal cancer mortality by ethnicity and socio-economic position in New Zealand, 1981-99: one country, many stories.

Background: Ethnicity and socio-economic position are important determinants of colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality. In this paper, we determine trends in colorectal cancer mortality by ethnicity and socio-economic position in New Zealand.

Methods: Cohort studies of the entire New Zealand population for 1981-84, 1986-89, 1991-94 and 1996-99 (linking Census and mortality datasets) allowed direct determination of trends in CRC mortality by income and education.