New research suggests plain packaging laws are reducing tobacco harm across the Tasman.

Australia became the first country to require plain packaging of tobacco in 2012.

A paper in today's New Zealand Medical Journal suggests the policy is working.

It says tobacco consumption has fallen since the law change, and Australians find tobacco smoking less appealing.

The paper says the government will need to pass its plain packaging law as soon as possible to achieve the goal of being smokefree by 2025.