$3 cigarettes sold illegally at South Auckland dairies

The sale of cigarettes in packs of less than 20 has been banned for decades to discourage children from buying them.

A pack of premium cigarettes such as Dunhill Blues or Reds retails for $47, while Holiday brand cigarettes retail for $42.90.

Selling one cigarette for $3 would mean that store owners would make $60 in net profit per 20 cigarettes sold. Herald was unable to verify whether the cigarettes purchased during the attack were taken from legitimate packs or were counterfeit cigarettes.

“I hope you get caught”

Manukau ward councilor Alf Filipaina said Herald singles sales were “disgusting” and the whole point was that store owners were profiting at the expense of the most vulnerable.

“The reason they do it is for profit. This is illegal and exploits the vulnerability of our community, Māori and Pacific people.”

He believed this was happening in parts of South Auckland because shopkeepers knew people in poorer communities were struggling to find the money to buy a full roll of 20-cent coins.

“If you keep doing this, I hope you get caught.”

Sellers are “doing us a favor”

Herald spoke to two Manurewa residents who regularly bought one cigarette at a time, who believed that the illegal trade helps those who have an addiction but do not have the financial means to buy a full pack of 20 cigarettes.

Siblings Stacy and Ani started smoking when they were children and said they were “generational smokers”, although their parents and grandparents also smoked.

Stacey said she buys singles because they were cheaper in times when money was tight.

“This is the best way to support our addiction to cigarettes and nicotine,” she said.

Ani agreed, saying Herald $40 for a pack of 20 was out of reach for most.

“If you’re on welfare, you’re only making $300 a week, which is a quarter of your salary.”

When asked if shop owners profit from their addiction, Ani said yes, but she didn’t have a problem with it.

“Yes, they (profited), but they are actually doing us a favor by making it affordable,” he said.

The pair believed the enormous cost of a pack of 20 cigarettes was a major reason for robberies and shop raids, and believed the proposal to cut prices would reduce such offences.

“Predatory Behavior”

University of Auckland public health professor Chris Bullen, a tobacco control expert, said the sale of single cigarettes was “appalling and highly illegal”.

“I think this is just a quick money-making venture without any concern for the health and well-being of the community. I think it’s terrible for dairy farmers,” he told the magazine Herald.

He likened single sales to “predatory behavior” that could trap young smokers in a lifelong addiction.

“The worst possible outcome I can imagine is young people having access to them because of their low cost,” he said.

New Zealand has set an ambitious target of becoming smoke-free by next year – or having less than 5% of the population identify as smokers.

The coalition government controversially rolled back key anti-smoking measures introduced by the previous Labor government, including a ban on sales to those born after 2008, capping nicotine levels in cigarettes and cutting the number of tobacco retailers by 90%.

Bullen called the move a “major setback” for tobacco control in New Zealand that would have consequences for thousands of people.

The failure of the legislation was condemned internationally.

He said if the number of shops selling cigarettes were reduced – as Labor proposed – it would be much more difficult to sell individual cigarettes because shops would need a tobacco license.

He wasn’t sure whether selling $3 cigarettes would make a difference in overall efforts to reduce smoking rates, given that the numbers continue to decline. However, he warned that if such sales become commonplace, it could jeopardize the goal of a smoke-free environment by 2025.

“I suspect it’s a small oversight, but it’s concerning because it could become a trend that goes against all the policies we have in place,” he said.

While he acknowledged Stacey and Anya’s argument, he disagreed with it and encouraged anyone struggling with nicotine addiction to seek help.

“Seek help and support because if there is one thing that will kill you, it is continued smoking.”

Michael Morra – Senior Investigative Reporter/Team Leader Herald. He won best coverage of a major news event at the 2024 Voyager NZ Media Awards and was twice named reporter of the year. He was a television journalist for 20 years and joined Herald‘s video team in July 2024.