Hopes New Zealand's efforts to stop smoking don't go up in smoke

The latest New Zealand Health Survey shows daily smoking rates have remained steady over the past year.

They were just under seven percent, which is down from 13 percent five years ago.

Auckland University health economist Paula Lorgelly says we might be tripping at the finish line.

She says we're seeing more steady drops which could have continued if New Zealand had passed legislation the previous government introduced.