Eight Bay retailers sold tobacco to an underage person during a recent operation conducted by Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service
Another 46 shopkeepers complied with the law by asking the underage teenager for their proof of age and refusing to sell tobacco to them.
The worst result was in Opotiki where three out of seven shops visited sold tobacco to the underage teenager, Dr Phil Shoemack, medical officer of health for Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service said.
"I am very disappointed that across the Eastern Bay there was a total of eight sales of tobacco to an underage teenager. There is clearly much room for improvement. It's against the law. No one should be selling tobacco to anyone under the age of 18."
A Controlled Purchase Operation involved an underage person asking to buy tobacco from retailers under controlled conditions.