Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content Skip to side navigation

About EASE

EASE is Aotearoa's International Tobacco Control ( ITC ) project, a health study which aims to support Aotearoa New Zealand's Smokefree 2025 goal. It generates evidence to inform policy and actions to help people become and stay smokefree.

The study surveys around 1,600 adult New Zealanders who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking and follows them over time. Our aim is to understand how tobacco-related policies and initiatives affect people who smoke and influence their behaviour. We also want to get participants' views about possible future policies.

Māori and Pacific peoples are over‑represented among people who smoke, so the EASE study has a particular focus on these groups, asking their views and finding out what works for them. Young adults are also a priority group since habits set during this life stage affect the whole life course. We want to make sure there are no groups left behind on Aotearoa's journey to become a smokefree nation.

The project team includes Māori and Pacific researchers who are leading the ethnic-specific aspects of the research.

The EASE study is part of the ITC (International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation) project. The current study  is a continuation of previous ITC New Zealand projects:

It is also part of the Te Tupu o te Harakeke Research Programme which is led by the ASPIRE Aotearoa Research Centre, based at the University of Otago and funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

About the ITC (International Tobacco Control) Policy Evaluation project

ITC logo finalThe International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (the ITC Project) is an international study of tobacco use that follows smokers and recent quitters over time. Its overall objective is to measure the impact of tobacco control policies (e.g. plain packs, smokefree legislation, mass media campaigns) and identify the determinants of effective tobacco control policies.

The ITC Project is a collaborative effort with international health organisations and policymakers in over 30 countries, inhabited by >50% of the world's population, >60% of the world's smokers, and >70% of the world's tobacco users. New Zealand has been part of this international team since 2006.

Is the study associated with tobacco or vaping companies?

No. The study is not associated with any commercial interests and receives no funding from the tobacco or vaping industries or associated organisations.

Our people

New Zealand EASE team

The EASE team works closely with market research company Research New Zealand who support the data collection.
Research New Zealand 

We also partner with the ITC international team based at the University of Waterloo, Canada. This is the ITC's 'head office' which provides support and guidance to the teams in participating countries. The key contacts for the New Zealand EASE project are detailed below.

ITC international team

Ethical approval

This study has been approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee (ref 20/020). If you have any concerns about the ethical conduct of the research, you may contact the Committee through the Human Ethics Committee Administrator:

Tel +64 3 479 8256
Email humanethics@otago.ac.nz

Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated and you will be informed of the outcome.

Findings

The EASE survey is conducted every 12 to 18 months. the most recent iteration (Wave 5), was conducted in 2024.  Wave 6 will be conducted in late 2025.

Findings from the survey have been used to inform tobacco control plans, legislation and regulations. Future survey waves will help to evaluate the impact of New Zealand's recent policy changes, and as such EASE findings are of great local and international importance.

Selected research outputs:

Contact us

Please contact the project team via the project administrator, Jacqui Hadingham:

Email ease@otago.ac.nz

Back to top