British American Tobacco New Zealand - New Zealand's tobacco industry and economic contribution

The New Zealand tobacco industry makes a significant contribution to the New Zealand economy in terms of government revenue, retail sales and employment.

Tobacco products make their largest financial contribution to the New Zealand economy through excise tax, with the tobacco industry in New Zealand paying over NZ$1.47 million in excise taxes in 2024.

Tobacco is also an important source of revenue for about 5,000 New Zealand retailers, the vast majority of whom are small, independent retailers and dairies.

Market size

In 2024, 900 million tailor made cigarettes (TMC) and 217 tonnes of roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco was sold to the trade by the three main tobacco companies in New Zealand.