The New Zealand government has confirmed it will follow Australia's lead and legislate to put tobacco products in plain packaging.

Associate health minister Tariana Turia says Cabinet's confirmation of an earlier in-principle decision will "remove the last vestiges of glamour" from a product that kills 5,000 New Zealanders each year.

She said she was delighted the nation was on track to become the second country in the world to legislate for generic packaging of tobacco products.

Australia's plain packaging laws came into effect in December last year, but cigarette companies have indicated they will make legal challenges to the laws.

Ms Turia said the New Zealand government would wait to see what happens with the legal challenges against the legislation in Australia before enacting their owns laws.

However, she said she hoped to have a bill before Parliament before the end of the year.

"It won't take years and years," she said.

"We know that we've got trade obligations and we take them seriously but we are confident that plain packaging can be introduced consistently with those obligations."

Skye Kimura, the tobacco control advisor for the Cancer Society, said the proposal was a "major step".

"No longer will tobacco products be decorated with desirable colours and prominent branding - future plain packaging, with large graphic warnings, will depict the reality instead," Ms Kimura said.

"Our major aim in tobacco control is to protect our children. Tobacco companies will no longer be able to advertise on their products and build brand loyalty in future generations."