Smokers across the ditch may need a prescription to buy cigarettes, but it's considered unlikely to be replicated in New Zealand.

Researchers in Australia have proposed a radical plan to end smoking, including phasing out commercial sales completely and restricting sales to pharmacies.

Action for Smoke-free 2025 chair Robert Beaglehole told Mike Hosking the proposals are just talk at this stage, and New Zealand's approach is seeing a steady decline in smoking numbers.

He says we have the goal to reduce adult smoking to five percent, and we're much further ahead than Australia.