Proactive release of papers relating to the implementation of roadside drug driving testing

Drug driving legislation is incorporated in the Land Transport Act 1998 via the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Acts (2022 and 2025) and includes a group of 25 qualifying drugs (four illicit drugs and 21 prescription medicines) that have the highest risk to road safety in New Zealand.

Safety is a strategic priority for the Government who committed to and prioritised the implementation of roadside drug driving testing, which is intended to be an additional road safety tool using an infringement-based approach to help detect and change driver behaviour without the need for criminal prosecution.

The importance of roadside drug driving testing has also been highlighted by the increasing prevalence of drugs, other than alcohol, detected in drivers' blood who were involved in fatal crashes and serious injuries on New Zealand roads.

The latest changes to the legislation enables NZ Police to implement roadside drug testing which strengthens what we already do to deter drug-impaired driving by adding the ability to conduct roadside drug driving testing anywhere at any time.

Four drugs will be screened for at the roadside using a mobile drug detection device which tests for THC (cannabis), methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine. If a driver tests positive for any of these drugs at the roadside, a saliva sample is taken for laboratory analysis. All 25 drugs are tested in the laboratory. A positive laboratory test will result in the issuing of an infringement offence notice.

Acknowledging the strong public interest Police has gathered the most relevant and informative documents in the form of a proactive release. This proactive release is specifically related to the implementation of roadside drug driving testing and the operationalisation of the 2025 legislation changes. It also includes key information to support public education.

Certain information in the documents has been withheld under one or more of the following sections of the Official Information Act 1982:

• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) to protect information that would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is subject of the information
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(f)(iv) in order to maintain constitutional conventions, which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(h) to maintain legal professional privilege
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(g)(i) in order to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions by, between or to Ministers of the Crown, members of an organisation, or officers and employees of any department in the course of their duty
• Information is withheld under section 9(2)(j) to enable a Minister of the Crown or any public service agency or organisation holding the information to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).

The documents in the below table are correct at the time of their publication. This table will be updated from time to time with updated or additional documents.