Vape shop numbers 'seem to be getting out of control' - mayor

Wairoa's mayor wants councils to have more legal powers to combat a proliferation of vape stores.

Mayor Craig Little said eight retailers sold vapes in the North Island town, which had a population of about 5000 people.

"They seem to be getting out of control. We've got two specialised [vape stores] and would you believe another six retailers who don't need the okay from the Ministry of Health.

"It's pretty scary to be quite honest."

He said the government should allow councils to cap the number of retailers within their boundaries where vapes could be sold, particularly places like dairies that sold vape products and did not require Ministry of Health approval to do so.

He suggested a "sinking lid" policy, like the one the council had for pokie machines, to stop any more stores from popping up.

"We've got to be able to control them somehow," he said.

He said vaping had become too normalised and accessible for young people.

"We really don't want to encourage vaping with the young ones. They've been great to get people off cigarettes, I've got to say. But you see so many young ones now vaping because it's cool, that's our concern.

"They're vaping everywhere. I see the stats, kids are getting kicked out of school more with vapes.

"It's just too easy to get them.

A 2024/2025 Health NZ survey found almost 14 percent of 15 to 17-year-olds vape every day, with Māori disproportionately represented.

Canterbury University research from 2024 also revealed that 81 percent of vape stores are within 800 metres of schools.

Little had appealed to other councils to join their call, and planned to raise the issue at Local Government New Zealand's upcoming annual general meeting.