The last reference by the government that they planned to do something about vaping was very public, during the election campaign. It was one of the highlighted topics in the parties' intended actions.

Since then there has been nothing.

It wasn't even mentioned in the long list of areas to be addressed in the first 100 days, in spite of the outcry from parents, school principals, Dr Bryan Betty, the Medical Director of RNZCGP, and other clinicians, and finding out we have the second highest vape rate after Estonia in 32 OECD countries, with over 8% of those 15 and over vaping regularly. (The UK, with a similar government vape promoting culture to NZ , came in at 5th.)

Specialty vape shops with large signing of VAPE or similar have large windows showing their colourful products, ordinary retailers like service stations and chemists have display cabinets or posters promoting vapes. Wandering round the city or driving around it is common to see people vaping. It is endemic.

Information about the health risks of vaping as stated by large major clinical institutions is easily accessible. (See refs on this petition site) Look at this 'Media release from the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists' in late November last year. It includes this:  'The main clinical evidence of the health impacts of vaping showed negative effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Additionally there was an unrecognised epidemic of trauma and burns associated with malfunctioning vapes....' https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/health-threat-vaping-reaches-epidemic-levels-among-youth-doctor

Why is there such silence from the government?

This has been discussed here.

The Department of Public Health and Ministry of Health not insisting on or providing clear messaging of vape risks to the public or a campaign of quitting programmes is a bit of a clue.  The previous, Labour, government and its referendum would have done nothing in this regard. It was not serious about addressing vape problems in New Zealand. 

It appears that the pro-vape lobby from the industry and push for retaining the hugely profitable vape industry within government, even from some of the government health departments, overrides health to put it simply. It is very similar to the UK. 

We have currently from the government Ministry of Health a serious, indeed criminal, understatement of risk (compare NZ and US online government advice for the public) while promoting the practice, there is licenced widespread colourful display and intense marketing of vape products including online, and no government quitting programmes for vaping or nicotine addiction are planned.

To suggest this is to help tobacco smokers to quit is lying to the public.

Nicotine and smoking addiction can be managed without destroying public health. Lungs, hearts and developing brains are all negatively impacted by the toxic vape aerosol.

NZ health is currently being sacrificed for money.

National, the main governing party, has had time to absorb the clear facts, and without urgent action on this health crisis is complicit in this act.

(Photo from Currency Exchange International)