New Zealand's government on Thursday made it even harder for people to smoke by announcing a 40 percent hike in cigarette taxes over the next four years. Prices there are already among the highest in the world, and by 2016 they will be even higher than 20 New Zealand dollars ($15USD) a pack on average.

Government officials hope higher taxes and new restrictions will bring the nation of 4.4 million closer to a recent promise to snuff out the smoking habit by 2025. Other countries have lauded the idea of trying to wean their citizens off tobacco, but few, if any, have been willing to make a finish date to achieve it.

Health officials there are so serious they recently considered hiking the cost of a pack of cigarettes to 100 New Zealand dollars ($75). Although that idea was not accepted; another measure, which will force shops to hide cigarettes below the counter rather than showing them for sale, will come into effect in July.

Smoking rates among New Zealand adults have fallen from about 30 percent in 1986 to about 20 percent today. Cigarette sales have fallen more sharply, suggesting that even people who haven't quit as prices rose.

People who are still smoking aren't happy about how prices are increasing.

Chris Hobman said the cost is "horrendous" and could cause some low-income people to commit crimes to support their habit. He said that the government needs to provide more support and alternatives to smokers if it's serious about making them quit.

Wellington resident Hayley, who has smoked for about 20 years, said that although it would be good if more people quit, higher taxes won't stop her.

"It's quite ridiculous for the government to be concentrating on that," she said. "They have bigger things to worry about."

New Zealand's Cancer Society reacted to Thursday's announcement by sending out a press release titled "Thumbs Up!"

Michael Calhoun, a spokesman for the anti-smoking lobby group ASH, said the fact that a higher percentage of low-income people smoke will mean the tax increases will force many to reduce or quit because they simply won't be able to afford to smoke.

The New Zealand branch of cigarette company British American Tobacco says the tax increases will force consumers to turn to the black market.

"Consumer demand is far better served by proper cigarette companies than by illegal ones that will surely grow as the government makes it increasingly difficult for people to buy cigarettes," wrote Susan Jones, head of corporate and regulatory affairs, in an email.

So far, New Zealand officials have seen few cases of illegal tobacco sales.

The South Pacific nation's smoking statistics are similar to those in other developed countries. According to a 2011 study by the World Health Organization, about 20 percent of adult New Zealanders smoke. That compares to about 16 percent of adults in the U.S., 17 percent in Australia, 23 percent in China and 27 percent in France.

New Zealand already charges more than 70 percent tax on cigarettes, compared to 41 percent on average for China, 45 percent on average for the U.S., 64 percent for Australia and 80 percent for France.