Drug Law Reform

services and systems

Green Party Bill to protect overdose emergency callers from legal risks receives cross party support

The Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Amendment Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking an important step toward ensuring that no one hesitates to call for help in a medical emergency.“The Bill will provide protection from prosecution for low-level drug offences for people who call for emergency help during an overdose,” says Green Party Drug Reform spokesperson Kahu Carter. “Around three New Zealanders die each week from treatable, accidental overdoses. Evidence shows that fear of legal consequences can delay...

Posted at April 29, 2026 10:47 PM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Greens renew call for evidence-based cannabis regulation

The Green Party has renewed its call for evidence-based cannabis regulation, on the fifth anniversary of a referendum in which the public voted only narrowly against legalisation.“Five years ago, 1.4 million New Zealanders voted on each side of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Referendum. Today, the Greens continue to work for sensible, evidence-based regulation to reduce harm,” says Green Party Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “Those who campaigned against legal regulation of cannabis could not defend the harm of criminal prohibition -...

Posted at October 29, 2025 11:18 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Member’s Bill an opportunity to save lives

A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter which aims to prevent deaths from drug overdose, the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today.“If someone is experiencing or witnessing a drug overdose, they should receive healthcare, not handcuffs,” says the Green Party’s Drug Reform spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter.  “Whatever the situation, when an overdose occurs, the priority must be to save lives, not to punish those seeking emergency assistance. “We...

Posted at September 11, 2025 12:37 PM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Green Party calls for law change to aid overdose response

The Green Party is launching a Member’s Bill that would allow people to call for help for someone experiencing a drug overdose without fear of criminal prosecution. “If someone is experiencing a drug overdose, they should receive healthcare, not handcuffs,” says the Green Party’s Drug Reform spokesperson, Kahurangi Carter.  “Whatever the situation, when an overdose occurs, the priority must be to save lives, not to punish those seeking emergency assistance. “Yesterday, the Drug Foundation released its annual overdose statistics, showing on...

Posted at September 01, 2025 9:01 AM by Kahurangi Carter

services and systems

Greens cheers community win to reduce alcohol harm

The Green Party is today celebrating the passage of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Bill.“Let’s be under no illusion. This Bill was introduced to the House and has passed today as a direct result of years of community campaigning, including most recently with the Greens nearly two year campaign for my Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill,” said Green Party drug harm reduction spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick. “We’re stoked that the Government copied our homework by removing the special appeals...

Posted at August 24, 2023 4:33 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Greens welcome Government joining the party to deal with disposable vapes

The Green Party are welcoming the Government’s announcement of regulations to curb youth vaping.“Drugs, like nicotine and alcohol, should be regulated in an evidence-based way to reduce harm. With the already extensive evidence of environmental harm and ease of uptake with disposable vapes, today we’re celebrating the Government joining the party in effectively phasing them out,” says Chlöe Swarbrick, Green Drug Law Reform Spokesperson. “This is a specific proposal we fought for throughout the progress of last year’s Smokefree Environments...

Posted at June 06, 2023 4:08 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Greens make progress on alcohol harm minimisation

The Green Party is tonight welcoming the progress made with Chlöe Swarbrick’s Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) member’s bill but disappointed Parliament has once again kicked the rest of the can down the road.“After a year of grassroots campaigning, late last year the Government announced it was adopting the kaupapa of my Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill. I said then that I wouldn’t withdraw my Bill because we had no guarantee they would follow through. A few weeks ago, unfortunately, the Government proved...

Posted at April 05, 2023 9:48 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick