Experts on global monitoring of illicit drug markets from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna and the Centre for Forensic Science Research and Education in the USA are among those offering perspectives on reducing the impacts from drug harm in Aotearoa at an event next week.
They will open the Reducing Drug Harm in Aotearoa Symposium, to be held at Parliament on Monday 1 December 2025.
Hosted by PHF Science, supported by the National Drug Intelligence Bureau and Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri | The New Zealand Drug Foundation and facilitated by New Zealand journalist Paddy Gower, the Symposium brings together international and New Zealand experts addressing this complex challenge for our communities.
The event features presentations on topics ranging from using insights from wastewater monitoring to global early warning systems and drug checking initiatives. Speakers include experts from New Zealand Police’s National Drug Intelligence Bureau, Wellington Hospital’s Emergency Medicine Department, NZ Drug Foundation, community-based drug harm reduction organisations, as well as forensic, surveillance and toxicology experts from PHF Science.
PHF Science Chief Executive Sir Dr Ashley Bloomfield says the event is an opportunity to share insights and updates to support a responsive, evidence-informed approach to reducing drug harm in Aotearoa.
“The impacts of harm from drugs are far-reaching, affecting individuals, whānau, communities, our wider health and justice systems and beyond. Equally, the causes – and potential approaches to addressing this challenge – are wide-ranging.
“This is an important opportunity to bring together people from across the spectrum of those working to prevent and address drug harm to share thinking and evidence about what works, and we are pleased to be able to convene these conversations.”
The international guests are in New Zealand to attend a major international toxicology conference, hosted by PHF Science. Dr Bloomfield says the team was motivated to ensure the visitors’ expertise could be shared more widely during the visit.
About PHF Science
PHF Science (New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, formerly ESR) is a New Zealand Government-owned research organisation dedicated to the health, wellbeing and safety of our communities. Specialising in public health and forensic sciences, we monitor disease, help ensure safe food and water, support the justice system and more. Our science powers innovations and solutions to help New Zealand prosper and grow.
Bringing world-leading science and independent advice, we work closely with health and community partners to support public safety and empower informed decision-making to reduce drug-related harm.
This ranges from working providing analysis of drugs and associated samples for evidential and intelligence purposes, to supporting pathologists and the Coroner’s office to bring answers to families.
We identify emerging substances and monitor drug trends through the National Drugs in Wastewater programme, and we partner with health and other agencies to support drug checking and other drug harm reduction technologies and initiatives.
Our innovative Lumi™ Drug Scan, designed in collaboration with New Zealand Police, enables front-line officers to accurately identify drugs in seconds, supporting greater options for responding to events and reducing harm.
Further information about the event, including the agenda and presenters, can be found here.