A tobacco researcher and anti-smoking advocate is welcoming the Government's proposition to legalise the sale of nicotine e-cigarettes.

LISTEN ABOVE: George Butterworth from Cancer research UK spoke to Mike Hosking

The Ministry of Health has released a consultation paper for regulating electronic cigarettes.

READ MORE: Govt proposes allowing sale of e-cigarettes

Tobacco researcher Murray Laugeson said it's an excellent move by the Government.

"I first started working on e-cigarettes in 2007, I've been working on them ever since, and I can heartily recommend them as a lot safer, much safer, than smoking ordinary cigarettes."

Mr Laugeson said evidence out of the UK suggests e-cigarettes help people quit smoking altogether.

"There's not much point in sticking with ordinary cigarettes if people can get access to e-cigarettes, which are much cheaper - cost about $2 a day."

Associate Health Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-liga said there's plenty of evidence to suggest that e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco products.

Mr Lotu-liga said while sale and supply of nicotine e-cigarettes is currently illegal, people are buying them online for personal use.

Submissions close in six weeks.