44 Bowen Street 
Private Bag 6995 
 
Wellington 6141 
New Zealand 
 
T 64 4 894 5400 
 
F 64 4 894 6100 
 
www.nzta.govt.nz 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18 June 2025 
 
 
 
  
Dan Tasman 
[FYI request #31044 email]  
REF: OIA-18439 
 
Dear Dan 
 
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982 
 
Thank you for your email of 20 May 2025 requesting the fol owing information regarding the impact of 
methamphetamine use on road safety in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland under the Official Information Act 
1982 (the Act): 
 
- Any internal reports, data, or briefings from 1 January 2022 to the present that refer to 
methamphetamine-related driving incidents, crashes, or road safety risks in Northland. 
- A breakdown of road safety campaigns or initiatives - funded, supported, or delivered by 
NZTA in Northland - that specifical y address drug-impaired driving, particularly involving 
methamphetamine. 
- Any inter-agency collaboration between NZTA and Police, Health NZ, or community 
organisations in Northland aimed at reducing drug-impaired driving or meth-related road harm. 
 
I have addressed each part of your request in turn below. 
 
Any internal reports, data, or briefings from 1 January 2022 to the present that refer to 
methamphetamine-related driving incidents, crashes, or road safety risks in Northland. 
 
Since January 2022, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has carried out the fol owing two 
research projects relating to drug use and driving: 
 
•  Research Report 704 Effective alternatives to penalties for repeat driving offenders 
•  Research Report 689 Prevalence of drugged and/or medicated driving in New Zealand. 
   
While these reports aren’t specifically related to methamphetamine use, they do contain reference to 
methamphetamine and are therefore considered to be within the scope of your request.  
 
For Research Report 704, pages 29 and 30 contain the most relevant information.  
 
Research Report 689 presents findings from an online survey of individuals who reported driving 
under the influence of drugs or medication within the past 12 months. The survey includes responses 
indicating methamphetamine use. The results are reported at a national level, with responses from 
 
  

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Northland included in the broader “Upper North Island” region—one of four regional groupings used 
across New Zealand for this research report.  
 
While not requested, prior to January 2022, NZTA published the following research reports that you 
may find of interest: 
 
•  Research Report 664 Risks of driving when affected by cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy) and 
methamphetamine and the deterrence of such behaviour: a literature review. 
•  Research Report 597 The prevalence and impairment effects of drugged driving in New 
Zealand. 
•  Research Report 544 New Zealanders attitudes towards drug-driving and suggested 
countermeasures. 
 
As the information requested is publicly available, this part of your request is refused under section 
18(d) of the Act.  
 
A breakdown of road safety campaigns or initiatives - funded, supported, or delivered by NZTA 
in Northland - that specifically address drug-impaired driving, particularly involving 
methamphetamine. 
 
In February 2025, NZTA launched a drug-driving public information campaign which is running 
nationwide, including in the Northland region. The campaign targets al  drivers and aims to raise 
awareness about the dangers of drug driving and its impact on road safety in New Zealand. It seeks to 
discourage driving under the influence of drugs by highlighting the serious consequences, including 
harm to oneself and others. 
 
The campaign is being delivered through a range of channels, including television, cinema, online 
video, outdoor advertising (such as bil boards and street posters), social media, and the NZTA 
website. 
 
Additionally, local councils receive funding for road safety promotion through the National Land 
Transport Fund. As such, some councils in Northland may allocate this funding to implement their own 
drug-impaired driving initiatives. 
 
Any inter-agency col aboration between NZTA and Police, Health NZ, or community 
organisations in Northland aimed at reducing drug-impaired driving or meth-related road harm. 
 
NZTA is currently working on educational content aimed at drug users, in partnership with the New 
Zealand Drug Foundation. This content wil  focus on the effects of drugs and the risks associated with 
driving after drug use. Cannabis and methamphetamine are the substances most commonly linked to 
road fatalities and serious injuries, and the educational materials wil  include targeted messaging 
about these drugs. 
 
Furthermore, NZTA wil  also be working alongside the New Zealand Police (Police) and other relevant 
agencies to deliver public information and educational support in preparation for the introduction of 
roadside drug testing by Police.  
 
Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to refuse 
part of your request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be located at 
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. 
 
 
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If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services by email to 
[NZTA request email].  
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Sam Russell 
Team Lead - Government and Ministerial Services 
 
 
 
 
 
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