--- title: Response to Government Statement on Vape Shops’ Proximity to Schools description: Response to Government Statement on Vape Shops’ Proximity to Schools image: https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hubfs/3.png --- [Skip to content](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/vape-shop-school-proximity#main-content) [![Vape Free Kids NZ logo small-1](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vape%20Free%20Kids%20NZ%20logo%20small-1.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Vape%20Free%20Kids%20NZ%20logo%20small-1.jpg "Vape Free Kids NZ logo small-1")](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/) - [Home](https://vapefreekidsnz.org) - [Updates](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates) - [Resources](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/resources) - [Home](https://vapefreekidsnz.org) - [Updates](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates) - [Resources](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/resources) # Response to Government Statement on Vape Shops’ Proximity to Schools [Vape-Free Kids NZ](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/author/vape-free-kids-nz) Jun 22, 2023, 11:00:00 AM While the Government holds a [national database of 1300 Specialist Vape Retailers](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://vaping.harp.health.nz/search/1DC97E34-E3F1-40E3-ADFE-30092B36F21C&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1692877165719441&usg=AOvVaw1xUotFl8psrJwhGrLLopUk) (SVRs), they recently admitted they “don’t know how many vape shops are already operating within 300m of schools”, despite launching a new policy on it. They also did not determine which of these already fall within the 300m boundary prior to their recent announcement that promised to keep new vape retailers more than 300m away from schools and marae. Anna Stewart, a spokesperson for Vape-Free Kids New Zealand (VFK NZ), a grassroots group seeking more action to prevent harm to rangatahi from vaping, says, “We find it incredible that there was no regulatory impact assessment for a measure intended to put distance between vape retailers, schools and marae. The fact that there was no review of the existing vape stores already licensed within this area makes no sense.” “Not only do they not know how many vape retailers were already within 300m of schools and kura, but they failed to consider dairies (GVRs), which means that children already able to access these products near schools will continue to be able to do so after the changes. A vape store is a vape store, regardless of the flavours on offer.” Recently released Ministry of Education data shows school stand downs related to underaged vaping have increased by over 300% across the country. “It's another alarming example of just how out of touch the Government has become on this issue. It clearly shows that, to them, the wellbeing of our tamariki matters less than the target of a Smokefree 2025,” says Stewart. Vape-Free Kids NZ was created 6 weeks ago and already has more than 1400 members.   The group has launched two petitions calling for action on the issue at [petitions.parliament.nz/2a168fb2-ec46-478c-52f5-08db2efc521d](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://petitions.parliament.nz/2a168fb2-ec46-478c-52f5-08db2efc521d&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1692877165721110&usg=AOvVaw2A0PYMyHUcxzVv39rUH2OE) (3000 signatures to date) and[www.change.org/vapefreekidsnz](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.change.org/vapefreekidsnz&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1692877165721532&usg=AOvVaw0YkuDwH2lF3wAhQExfTusc) (6,000 signatures to date). [mediarelease](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/tag/mediarelease) ## Read On [![](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hs-fs/hubfs/3.png?width=352&name=3.png)](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/expansion-of-quitline) ### [Vape-Free Kids Applauds Expansion of Quitline Program to Include Children](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/expansion-of-quitline) VFK NZ, a leading community advocacy group in the fight against youth nicotine addiction, commends... [![](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hs-fs/hubfs/parakai%202.jpg?width=352&name=parakai%202.jpg)](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/parakai-protest) ### [Protest Planned Against New Vape Shop Opening in Parakai](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/parakai-protest) Locals in Parakai, located in northwest Auckland near Helensville, are gathering on Tuesday 1... [![](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hs-fs/hubfs/charlie%20speaking.png?width=352&name=charlie%20speaking.png)](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/petition-presentation-speeches) ### [Petition Presentation Speeches](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/petition-presentation-speeches) Speeches made at Parliament during the presetation of the Vape-Free Kids NZ petition on 16 August,... ![6](https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hs-fs/hubfs/6.png?width=150&height=150&name=6.png "6") #### Join the conversation [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/vapefreekidsnz) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/vape-free-kids-nz/) [Email Us](mailto:vapefreekidsnz@gmail.com) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vapefreekidsnz) [Follow us on TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@vape_free_kids_nz) © 2023 Vape-Free Kids NZ   ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Vape-Free Kids NZ", "url" : "https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/author/vape-free-kids-nz" }, "dateModified" : "2023-09-08T22:52:29.101Z", "datePublished" : "2023-06-21T23:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Response to Government Statement on Vape Shops’ Proximity to Schools", "image" : [ "https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hubfs/3.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://vapefreekidsnz.org/updates/vape-shop-school-proximity", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://vapefreekidsnz.org/hubfs/2.png" }, "name" : "Vape Free Kids NZ" } } ```