More kids are getting caught smoking and vaping in school.

10.1 percent of Year 10s were vaping daily last year, up from 3.1 percent in 2019, as smoking rates fall.

Exclusive Ministry of Education data shows school stand-downs for smoking and vaping has gone up almost 300 percent, comparing those years.

In Wellington, it's gone up 447 percent.

From January to May this year, there are already more smoking and vaping-related stand downs than the entirety of the year 2019.

Teachers and principals are scrambling to curb young kids vaping at schools.

Vaughan Couillault says even Year 9s are vaping, and educators are trying everything to stop it.

"Engaging whanau, education programs, vape sensors, some of us are installing, deprivatising the communal spaces and toilets as opposed to just the cubicles." 

There's also concern kids younger and younger are picking up vaping in schools.

Vaughan Couillault says schools are routinely catching kids vaping in bathrooms and outside classrooms and he says his colleagues from intermediate and primary schools are seeing the same issue.

Vaughan Couillault says the issue is 'all over the place,' and punishment's a worst case scenario.

"There's an education side that happens all the way through to your hardcore recidivist offender who's has all sorts of other lower consequences getting things like stand-downs and suspensions."

A Smokefree advocate believes punishing kids who vape in school isn't the best way forward.

Public Health Professor Janet Hoek  says a lot of young people don't realise how addictive nicotine is.

"So what we need are processes and support mechanisms that are actually going to help those young people to give up vaping."

Janet Hoek says kids should learn more about how dangerous it is instead, to get them off the vapes.

"This idea that they can become so quickly dependent on nicotine- it's an incredible surprise to them and a very unwelcome experience."

Action for Smokefree 2025 Campaigner Ben Youdan also thinks more support, rather than punishment will stop kids vaping at school.

Ben Youdan says schools should have open discussions with young people, focusing on a public health approach that develops strategies to help young people say no.

"Understanding and developing strategies to not be trying this stuff, and also taking a public health approach."