New Zealand

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes broadcasting and disseminating by any electronic medium. The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes any “broadcast or telecast” that encourages the use of tobacco. Therefore, tobacco advertising on domestic TV and radio is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising on domestic TV and radio.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes to “insert in any newspaper or other periodical publication printed, published, or distributed in New Zealand.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written [or] printed” that encourage tobacco use. Therefore, tobacco advertisements are prohibited in domestic newspapers and magazines.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising in domestic newspapers and magazines.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes, among others, to “display by way of a sign, notice, poster, or other means,” to “distribute by any means,” or to “bring to the notice of the public in New Zealand in any other manner.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written [or] printed” that encourage tobacco use. Therefore, tobacco advertising via domestic print media such as pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, posters, and signs is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising via print media.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. This prohibition applies to radio and television transmissions originating outside New Zealand if the advertisement is targeted primarily at a New Zealand audience. If the advertisement is not targeted primarily at a New Zealand audience, the advertisement is not prohibited. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

Because the law restricts the transmission of radio and television broadcasts that contain tobacco advertising, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines para. 52, which states that “Parties should make use of their sovereign right to take effective actions to limit or prevent any cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship entering their territory.” However, to align more fully, the law should contain provisions to ban tobacco advertising in all international TV and radio transmissions, regardless of primary target market.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. This prohibition applies to newspapers and magazines printed outside New Zealand if: 1) the principal purpose of the newspaper or magazine is the promotion of the use of regulated products, or 2) the newspaper or magazine is intended for sale or distribution primarily in New Zealand. The prohibition does not apply if the newspaper or magazine is not intended principally to promote regulated products and is not intended for sale or distribution primarily in New Zealand. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Some Restrictions” is given.

Because the law restricts the importation of newspapers and magazines that contain tobacco advertising, the law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines para. 52, which states that “Parties should make use of their sovereign right to take effective actions to limit or prevent any cross-border tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship entering their territory.” However, to align more fully, the law should contain provisions to ban tobacco advertising in all international newspapers and magazines, regardless of primary target market and primary purpose of the publication.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The law specifically states that an “Internet-sales message” must be treated as a tobacco product advertisement. Moreover, the broad definition of “publish” includes, among others things, to “disseminate by means of any other electronic medium,” to “distribute by any means,” and to “bring to the notice of the public in New Zealand in any other manner.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written, printed, or spoken” on any medium. While the law exempts from the advertising ban regulated product advertising in foreign newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio programs under certain circumstances, the law does not exempt advertising via international internet communications. Therefore, all tobacco advertising via internet communications is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising via internet communications.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes, among other things, to “display by way of a sign, notice, poster, or other means” or to “bring to the notice of the public in New Zealand in any other manner.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written [or] printed” that encourage the use of a regulated product. Therefore, tobacco advertising via outdoor advertising is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising via outdoor advertising.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes, among other things, to “display by way of a sign, notice, poster, or other means” or to “bring to the notice of the public in New Zealand in any other manner.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written [or] printed” that encourage the use of a regulated product. Therefore, tobacco advertising at point of sale is prohibited.

Retailers may display inside a retail establishment a notice indicating, using only printed or written words, that tobacco products are available in general – “TOBACCO AVAILABLE HERE.” The law restricts the size of the sign and the number of signs that are permitted in a retail establishment depending on its size. The sign must also include a graphic health warning. In addition, a retailer’s name displayed outside the place of business may no longer contain any word or expression signifying that a regulated product is available, the trademark of a regulated product, or the company name of a manufacturer or importer of a regulated product.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale tobacco advertising and promotion.

The law prohibits all tobacco product display at the point of sale. Retailers may not allow a tobacco product to be visible from outside the place of sale or anywhere inside the place of sale to which members of the public are allowed access.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to point of sale product display.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes, among others, to “send to any person, by post or otherwise.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written [or] printed” that encourage the use of regulated products. Therefore, delivering tobacco advertising by conventional mail is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to delivering tobacco advertising by conventional mail.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The broad definition of “publish” includes, among others, to “disseminate by means of any other electronic medium”. The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written, printed, or spoken” that encourage the use of regulated products. Therefore, tobacco advertising via telephone or cellular is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to tobacco advertising via telephone and cellular phone.

The law prohibits the use of a regulated product trademark (which, by definition, includes any brand name, company name, or any other name, word, or mark that resembles a trademark, whether registered or not) on any article other than a regulated product; and prohibits the use of a regulated product trademark for the purpose of advertising a service to the public. This provision is interpreted as prohibiting the use of designs, images, logos, sounds, and colors associated with tobacco products on entertainment venues, retail outlets, vehicles, and equipment.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand marking.

The law prohibits the free distribution of tobacco products.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13, the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines and FCTC Art. 16 (Sales to Minors) with respect to the free distribution of tobacco products.

The law prohibits the offering of any gift, cash rebate, or the right to participate in any contest, lottery, or game in conjunction with the purchase of a tobacco product. The law also prohibits supplying any other item, free or at reduced charge, together with the purchase of tobacco product.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to promotional discounts, gifts, prizes, and other rewards to consumers in conjunction with a tobacco product purchase.

The law prohibits the use of a regulated product trademark (which, by definition, includes any brand name, company name, or any other name, word, or mark that resembles a trademark, whether registered or not) for the purpose of advertising an activity or event to the public. This provision is interpreted as prohibiting competitions associated with tobacco product brand names.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to competitions associated with tobacco products.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertising. The broad definition of “publish” includes, among others, to “distribute by any means” or to “bring to the notice of the public in New Zealand in any other manner.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” includes “any words, whether written, printed, or spoken,” that encourage the use of regulated products. These provisions together are interpreted as prohibiting direct person-to-person targeting of individuals with tobacco advertising (spoken or otherwise).

In addition, the law specifically prohibits certain oral communications made by retailers to customers within their retail premises. These include, subject to some exceptions, encouraging the use of a regulated product, notifying the available of a regulated product, promoting the sale of a regulated product, or promoting smoking.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to direct person-to-person targeting.

The law prohibits the use of a regulated product trademark (which, by definition, includes any brand name, company name, or any other name, work or mark that resembles a trademark, whether registered or not) on any article other than a regulated product, and prohibits the use of a regulated product trademark for the purpose of advertising a service to the public. Therefore, brand stretching is prohibited.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to brand stretching.

The law does not specifically address reverse brand stretching. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing reverse brand stretching.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit reverse brand stretching.

The law prohibits the sale of toys that resemble regulated products to a person younger than 18 years of age.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit the same of all toys that resemble tobacco products, regardless of the age of the purchaser.

The law does not specifically prohibit the sale of candy that resembles tobacco products. Therefore, the law is interpreted as allowing the sale of candy that resembles tobacco products.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit the sale of candy that resembles tobacco products.

The law prohibits retailer incentive programs. Specifically, the law prohibits gifts, cash, or other rewards to retailers in exchange for the purchase or sale of regulated products, advertising of regulated products inside the place of business, or changing the location of the regulated products inside the place of business.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to retailer incentive programs.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertisement. The definition of “publish” includes, among others, to “include in any film or video recording” or to “disseminate by means of any other electronic medium.” The definition of “regulated product advertisement” specifically includes “any depiction . . . in a film, video recording, telecast, or other visual medium where in return for that depiction any money is paid, or any valuable thing is given, to any person.” Therefore, the paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, or other media is prohibited. The law makes a very limited exception for film and video recordings made before December 16, 1990 in which the reference or depiction of a regulated product is only incidental. Because the exemption is very limited, and paid placement is currently banned, the regulatory status code “Banned” is given.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines with respect to paid placement of tobacco products in TV, film, and other media.

The law prohibits publishing of any regulated product advertising. The definition of “regulated product advertisement” specifically includes “any depiction . . . in a film, video recording, telecast, or other visual medium where in return for that depiction any money is paid, or any valuable thing is given . . . .” Because the definition specifically includes paid placement of tobacco products, but not unpaid depiction, the law is interpreted as allowing unpaid depiction of tobacco products.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should specifically address unpaid placement in accordance with FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, paras. 29-32.

The law prohibits a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of regulated products from sponsoring an organized activity that involves a regulated product or company trademark, or that is likely to cause a person to believe a regulated product trademark is being used. The law also prohibits the use of regulated product or company trademarks for the purpose of advertising or identifying to the public any service, activity, event, scholarship, fellowship, or other educational benefit. Sponsorship includes any contribution, financial or otherwise, toward organizations or individuals associated with the activity. Contributions are allowed so long as no trademark or brand name is involved, but prohibited if a trademark or brand name is intrinsically involved in the sponsorship.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all contributions to activities, individuals, organizations, or governments that have the aim, effect, or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use directly or indirectly.

The law prohibits a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of regulated products from sponsoring an organized activity that involves a regulated product or company trademark, or that is likely to cause a person to believe a regulated product trademark is being used. The law also prohibits the use of regulated product or company trademarks for the purpose of advertising or identifying to the public any service, activity, event, scholarship, fellowship, or other educational benefit. Sponsorship includes any contribution, financial or otherwise, toward organizations or individuals associated with the activity.

To align with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines, the law should prohibit all tobacco sponsorship and publicity thereof.

The law requires standardized (plain) packaging of tobacco products. Therefore, tobacco packaging cannot include contains terms or other indicia that may create a false impression with respect to the harmfulness of a specific brand.

Moreover, the Fair Trading Act 1986 prohibits generally "conduct that is liable to mislead the public as to the nature, characteristics, suitability for a purpose, or quantity of services." Together, these provisions are interpreted as prohibiting promotion by any means that are false, misleading, or deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about a product's characteristics, health effects, hazards, or emissions.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 13 and the FCTC Art. 13 Guidelines in this respect.