Between 1996 and 2006, a range of tobacco control activities were implemented in New Zealand. Data from the 1996 and 2006 national censuses were compared in this investigation, which examined the relationships between smoking prevalence and age, sex, socioeconomic position, and ethnicity. Throughout the decade, there was no change in the strong relationship between small-area socioeconomic deprivation and smoking prevalence. Smoking prevalence continued to be associated with Māori ethnicity independently of small-area socioeconomic deprivation. Smoking prevalence reduced modestly between 1996 and 2006 but increased in some age/sex/ethnic/deprivation groups.