Last updated: January 19, 2024
Penalties
Sales Restrictions
With regard to vending machine sales, violations of restrictions on public access are punishable by a fine of up to NZ $2,000. Violations of vending machine display restrictions are punishable by a fine of up to NZ $10,000.
Violations of the provisions requiring health warning information for internet sales are punishable by a fine of up to NZ $2,000.
Violations of the smokeless tobacco sales ban are punishable by: in the case of a manufacturer, importer, or distributor, a fine of up to NZ $10,000; or in any other case, a fine of up to NZ $5,000.
The enforcement authority is the Director-General of Health.
Location-based Sales Restrictions
Tobacco sales are not restricted by location; therefore, there are no associated penalties.
Minimum Retail Package Size
Violations of the minimum retail package size are punishable by a fine of up to NZ $2,000.
The enforcement authority is the Director-General of Health.
Minimum Legal Sales Age
Violations of the ban on sales to persons below the age of 18 are punishable by a fine of up to NZ $10,000 in the case of a body corporate or a fine of up to NZ $5,000 in any other case.
The law also provides that certain repeat offenders (defined as a repeat conviction within two years) may be ordered not to sell tobacco products. In addition to other penalties, the court may choose to make an order prohibiting or restricting sales by or on behalf of the person or at the shop where the sale took place.
The enforcement authority is the Director-General of Health.
