Ten per cent of Year 10 teens still smoking

Teenage smoking rates in Northland are dropping, new statistics reveal, but almost 10 per cent of Year 10 high school students are regular smokers.

A local principal says increased education around tobacco-harm is a significant factor in bringing smoking rates down.

Results from the 2012 national Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) survey estimated 9.4 per cent of Northland's Year 10 high school students were regular smokers - down from an average of 12.5 per cent in surveys between 2008 and 2011.

The number of young teenagers who labelled themselves daily smokers also dropped in the past five years.

About 4.5 per cent of respondents indicated they were daily smokers last year, compared to 9.1 per cent in 2008.

Tauraroa Area School principal Grant Burns, who also chairs the Northland Secondary Principals' Association, said schools were active in fighting tobacco addiction.

"But, there is a cool factor in smoking, which is hard to shake off." However, more students were picking up on positive anti-smoking messages, he said.

Nationally, the previous downward trend in Year 10 smoking rates since 1999 stalled last year.

Anti-tobacco groups say cigarette advertising plays a major role in youth smoking rates.

Quitline chief executive Paula Snowden said smoke-free policies guarding public places would help prevent youngsters taking up the habit.

"Young people in particular, those under 25, are bombarded with product placement around tobacco.

"It's just everywhere," she said.

The tobacco industry wanted to normalise cigarette smoking, "so when you can legitimately access it, you think it's a natural thing to do as a grown up"..

The written survey asked 28,443 anonymous 14 and 15-year-old high school students across New Zealand whether they had ever smoked, were regular smokers or daily smokers.