With a surge in people wanting to quit smoking, the vaping business is booming in New Zealand.

Advocates say it's a healthier and cheaper option for those wanting to stub out the smokes.

For Josh McNally, the fog has finally cleared. Having given up his 15-year smoking habit, he's switched to vaping.

"Walking up I was no longer breathless, that morning cough that you get, gone," he told Newshub.

"And with the money I'm saving I'm putting it into going to the gym, getting back in shape and actually getting my health back on track."

There's been a 30 percent increase in people contacting Quitline this year, and 10 percent of them are using vaping as a tool to give up.

QJ Satchell was so convinced he started a business manufacturing it. He founded NZVAPOR which sells e-cigarettes, nicotine and nicotine-free e-juice.

"We don't want non-smokers to start vaping, we don't want children to start vaping, we want to make sure that we are approaching the right people and those are current smokers, adult smokers who need to stop," he said.

And with 200,000 vapers now in New Zealand he says business is booming.

He's in the process of moving to a bigger factory to accommodate his growing business.

Overall, smoking rates have fallen in recent years, now to below 14 percent, but they remain high for Māori - and there are still 5000 smoking related-deaths every year.

Hāpai te Hauora's Mihi Blair says the Ministry of Health has just concluded a small programme with Māori women and the most success that they got out of that was women who chose to vape instead of the usual tools.

But vaping is not entirely without risk.

QJ Satchell says people should make sure they're picking the right products and safest options.

"There are only four products in a decent e-liquid: propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavouring and, if chosen, nicotine. It doesn't need anything else, that's it."

The Government is planning to regulate vaping products later this year, and say it's another step towards becoming a smoke free country.

Newshub.