Palmerston North residents have been stockpiling cigarettes ahead of the annual price hike, as stockists quickly sell their old stock.

Stores in the city felt a surge in demand for tobacco products in the weeks leading up to the New Year, as the Government imposed its fourth and final 10 per cent tax increase.

Moving to an average of $22.40 per 20-pack of cigarettes, the annual increases have been part of a push to make New Zealand smokefree by the year 2025.

Butt Bucket, a Palmerston North tobacconist, also had a surge in the number of people buying up around the New Year, before their new stock came in on Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Owner Richard Green said he believed people were always going to smoke, despite the cost.

"The week before New Years we sold an absolute s*** load. It was like they were flying out the door," Green said.

Since the New Year there has also been an increase in pleas for cheap tobacco and cigarettes through "buy and sell" pages on Facebook in the Manawatu and Whanganui region.

Bobby Patel, owner of Food Square Convenience, said people had been buying up to three packets of cigarettes at a time.

Patel said many customers had switched to a cheaper brand after last year's change, although he was not certain whether many would do the same this year.

"Just before the 31st we had a lot of people... buying the smokes and stocking up," Patel said.

Smoker Rhiannon Walker said she would not really notice the price increase, nor would many of her friends.

"Most people I know work and stuff so it doesn't really [matter]."

John Cryer said while he didn't like the increase, it would not make a difference to his smoking.

"I only smoke two to three a day actually," he said.

In January 2015, Green's Terrace End was broken into, as thieves stole an estimated $16,000 worth of stock. There was another attempted burglary the following month.

But Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said he did not think the price hike would increase the risk of burglaries targeting cigarettes.

An investigation was launched in October last year by Manawatu police after a string of stores were raided for cigarettes. Thousands of dollars of cigarettes were taken.

Sheridan said he would be surprised if the slight increase had any impact on a commodity that was already "pretty expensive".

He said thieves had been targeting store owners for cigarettes for several years now.



"Most, if not all, retailers that sell cigarettes have excellent security systems."