IR-01-26-3467
24 February 2026
Chris Johnston
[FYI request #32972 email]
Dear Chris
Thank you for your follow-up Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request received 30
January 2026, in which you submitted additional questions regarding oral fluid testing. I
have answered each part of your request below:
1. What is the information col ection strategy and aims for the pilot?
There is no dedicated information col ection strategy for the pilot. The information
collected is either part of standard policing practice, required by legislation, or necessary
to document and evidence the roadside drug screening process.
For example, Police record and document the required evidence relating to the roadside
test results, requirements for the laboratory as well as for issuing an infringement notice.
2. What data col ection mechanisms are being used? Eg feedback from officers,
satisfaction surveys, refusal rates.
Information col ected at the roadside is recorded in the required police procedural
documentation. This information provides police with information about the roadside drug
testing stop, the outcomes from the drug screening tests, and supporting evidence, and
any actions taken by police such as issuing an infringement at the roadside. Laboratory
analysis and the results certificate wil confirm to Police the results of the laboratory test,
and whether an infringement is issued or not.
We also ask officers to provide feedback to the pilot team. This includes asking about the
roadside experience with the public and any learnings that can help inform and improve
preparations for national deployment across other Districts.
3. Please provide any interim results available in unaggregated, aggregated,
summary or report form?
Interim data from the pilot indicates that Police have conducted over 300 drug-driving
stops to date. Of these, eight drivers returned a positive result during the first screening
test. Five of those cases resulted in saliva samples being collected for laboratory
analysis. A total of seven infringement notices have been issued so far.
These figures are provisional. Any stops that involve ongoing Police action or offences in
progress, or where laboratory results are stil pending, wil be added to the totals once
Police National Headquarters 180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz
final information is received.
4. Please summarise any key issues that have arisen and any remedial action
or recommendations as a result.
No key issues have arisen during the pilot to date, and accordingly no remedial actions or
recommendations have been required. This part of your request is therefore refused
pursuant to section 18(e) of the OIA as the document al eged to contain the information
requested does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot be found.
I trust this information is satisfactory in answering your request. If you are not satisfied
with the way I have responded to your request, you have the right under section 28(3) of
the OIA to ask the Ombudsman to review my decisions. Information on how to do this is
available online at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Yours sincerely
Superintendent Steve Greally
Director: Road Policing
New Zealand Police
