A new paper published by PHF Science researchers explores how drug checking services operate within New Zealand’s legal framework, offering insights for other countries considering similar harm reduction programmes.
Drug checking has come a long way in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past decade, evolving from a service operating in a legal ‘grey area’ to a formally recognised and regulated harm reduction initiative.
The paper, Out of the “grey area”: How Drug Checking services operate within a legal framework in Aotearoa New Zealand, examines this transition and the legislative and regulatory requirements that underpin drug checking services today.
Drug checking services have operated in New Zealand since 2015, initially without a clear legal framework. Legislative amendments introduced in 2020 and 2021 formally legalised drug and substance checking, establishing requirements for licensing, auditing and the use of approved testing technologies.
The paper draws on peer-reviewed research, regulatory guidelines, other published material and the direct experience of PHF Science researchers involved in supporting the implementation and ongoing delivery of drug checking services.
It aims to provide a useful resource for other jurisdictions considering the introduction of similar programmes.
Supporting drug checking through laboratory analysis
Drug checking services allow people to better understand the contents of substances, supporting more informed decisions and reducing the risk of harm.
As of June 2026, five organisations were licensed by the Director-General of Health to provide drug checking services in New Zealand:
- KnowYourStuffNZ (KYSNZ)
- The New Zealand Drug Foundation (NZDF)
- Rodger Wright Harm Reduction Network (formerly known as DISC Trust)
- University of Auckland's School of Pharmacy
- PHF Science
The number of samples being checked across the organisations has continued to increase under the legal framework. PHF Science plays an important role in supporting these services by providing specialist laboratory analysis for samples that cannot be identified through field testing, with a small percentage of samples collected through drug checking services referred to the PHF Science laboratory for further analysis.
Our scientists use a range of analytical techniques to determine the likely identity of these substances, including those that may be new or emerging in New Zealand.
Identifying emerging drug threats
Laboratory analysis also plays a critical role in identifying emerging substances and informing public health responses. Findings from PHF Science contribute to New Zealand’s drug early warning system, High Alert, which provides information on potentially dangerous drugs circulating in New Zealand communities
Over its first five years of operation, High Alert issued 42 notifications and one alert, with more than half of the notifications linked to substances detected through drug checking. These have included novel substances identified for the first time internationally in community drug samples, such as N-cyclohexyl pentylone and butodesnitazene.
These detections demonstrate the value of connecting community drug checking services with specialist laboratory expertise and an established early warning system.
By documenting New Zealand's experience, the paper highlights how a regulated drug checking framework can support harm reduction, strengthen drug surveillance and help identify emerging risks to public health.
Read the full paper: Out of the “grey area”: How Drug Checking services operate within a legal framework in Aotearoa New Zealand