New Zealand is stubbing out plans for a world-first ban on young people ever being able to buy cigarettes.

The law, due to come into effect in July, would have prevented anyone born after January 1st, 2009, from buying tobacco products.

It would have also cut nicotine content in tobacco products and reduced the number of retailers by more than 90%.

But New Zealand's new coalition government has confirmed the toughest anti-tobacco measures in the world are being revoked.

The change comes after a new coalition deal ended six weeks of negotiations following a general election on October 14th last year.

File photo shows a woman smoking. Picture by: BSIP SA / Alamy

The election saw the country shift to the right, with a win for the Conservative National Party under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, ending six years of a Labour government.

The country's Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said the coalition is committed to reducing smoking, but it is taking a different regulatory approach to discourage the habit and reduce harm caused.

"I will soon be taking a package of measures to cabinet to increase the tools available to help people quit smoking," she said.

There had been calls for Ireland to follow New Zealand's lead when the plan was announced.

A smokers' lobby group had claimed any such move towards a smoking ban would be 'creeping prohibition'.

New Zealand, like Ireland, already requires plain packaging and has high taxes on cigarettes.

Reporting by: IRN

Main image: A woman lighting a cigarette in October 2017. Image: Geoff Smith / Alamy