As of 28 May 2026, Hemp regulations have been updated where the industrial hemp licencing scheme is now replaced with permission-based hemp regulations.
If you are cultivating or planning to cultivate hemp plants, you are required to notify the New Zealand Police and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) prior to cultivating any hemp. Each notification is valid for a period of one year. If you do not notify the Police, you may be at risk of enforcement action.
If you hold an industrial hemp licence and intend to continue cultivating beyond the expiry of your hemp licence, you are required to notify Police and MPI prior to the expiry date listed on that licence.
Notification requirements for Police
Individuals or businesses who are or planning to cultivate hemp must notify New Zealand Police by downloading and completing the notification form below. Once completed, the form is to be sent to hempnotifications@police.govt.nz.
The notification to Police must include:
- Identity of the person intending to cultivate hemp
- Address and contact details of the person
- Location(s) to be used for cultivation, including the address and a plan or map of the area if the location is not easily identifiable from the address
- Description of the intended nature and scale of the cultivation.
Notification requirements for Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI)
In addition to notifying Police, you are required to inform the Ministry of Primary Industries and must include:
- Identity of the person intending to cultivate hemp
- Address and contact details of the person.
You can contact the Ministry for Primary Industries at: info@mpi.govt.nz
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the legislation come into force?
The Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006 will be revoked on 28 May 2026 and replaced by permission-based regulations in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977.
What is ‘hemp’?
Hemp is a cannabis sativa plant or fruit with a THC content of not more than 1% of the dry weight of the plant, or seeds harvested from plants of that kind.
A hemp product means a product derived wholly or partly from the stalk or seed of hemp, and a hemp seed food product.
Please note that hemp seed food products are products declared to be food by the regulations made under the Food Act 2014.
What does this change mean?
With these changes, it is now possible to cultivate, possess, process, procure, sell or supply hemp without a licence for any of the following reasons:
- Breeding new cultivars and varieties of hemp
- Researching the suitability of cultivars and varieties of hemp for the production or manufacture of hemp products
- Producing or manufacturing a hemp product
- Selling or supplying hemp into the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.
How do I make a notification?
If you are planning to cultivate hemp plants, and you don’t already have a medicinal cannabis licence, you are required to notify the NZ Police and the Ministry for Primary Industries prior to cultivating. Each notification is valid for a period of one year.
You can make a notification online by:
Please note that you must provide the information that is being asked in the Hemp Notification form to satisfactorily notify Police of your intention to cultivate hemp under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2026.
Can I go to my local Police station to make a notification?
Yes, you can, you will still be required to provide the information found in the Hemp Notification form.
Do I need a licence?
You must have a valid licence to import or export hemp.
A licence is no longer required for many hemp-related activities domestically; however, all cannabis sativa plants, including hemp seeds and plant material, remain controlled drugs.
This means all hemp plant material (which includes the leaf or flower) and all whole hemp seed still require a licence to import or export.
A licence to import or export is not required for hemp products or hemp food products (such as stalks of hemp or hulled hemp seed).
As there will no longer be an industrial hemp licence, the application process for an import/export licence is changing, and you may need to apply for a Ministry of Justice criminal record check ahead of submitting your application.
What if I already have an industrial hemp licence?
All industrial hemp licence holders will have their licences revoked on the commencement date of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2026.
All industrial hemp licence holders will need to reapply for a licence to import or export hemp.
What do I need to do if I want to grow hemp?
You must notify Police and the Ministry for Primary Industries with your crop location before you plant.
Further guidance for notification to the Ministry for Primary Industries can be found on the MPI website.
What do I need to provide in my notification?
The form is self-explanatory and requests the following information:
- identifying details of the person: the address and contact details of the person
- the following information about the location or locations to be used for cultivating hemp: (i) the address: (ii) a plan or map, if the location is not easily identifiable using an address
- a description of the intended nature and scale of the cultivation
A notification made under this regulation is valid for a period of 1 year from the date that the notification was made. This regulation does not apply to any person who cultivates hemp pursuant to a licence under the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Regulations 2019.
Do I need to repeat this notification to grow hemp?
Yes, your notification is valid for one year from the date it was submitted, and a new notification must be submitted each year to continue cultivating hemp.
What should I do if I think someone is not growing hemp?
Concerns around illicit substances such as cannabis being grown can be raised through the 105 channel. You can call 105 or make a report online.