Tena koe Nigel,

I refer to your Official Information Act request dated 11 April 2026 below.

We have transferred your request in full to NZTA. The information to which your request relates is not held by us, but is believed to be held by NZTA. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982 to transfer your request, you will hear further from them concerning your request.

Ngā mihi

Jonelle|Advisor: Ministerial Services |(she/her)
Policy & Partnerships |Police National Headquarters |

-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray <[FOI #34473 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 11 April 2026 8:58 pm
To: Ministerial Services <[email address]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information Act Request – MedicalEvent and DrugRelated Crashes (2023–2025)

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and are assured that the content is safe.

NZ Police – National Road Policing Centre / Ministerial Services
Subject: Official Information Act Request – Medical‑Event and Drug‑Related Crashes (2023–2025)

I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982.
To avoid ambiguity, each item refers specifically to data recorded or held by NZ Police, including but not limited to the Crash Analysis System (CAS), Police crash reports, and any internal classification or coding guidance.

A. Medical‑Event Crashes (2023, 2024, 2025) For each of the last three calendar years, please provide:

The number of fatal crashes where the primary contributing factor was recorded as a medical event.

The number of serious‑injury crashes where the primary contributing factor was a medical event.

The number of minor‑injury crashes where the primary contributing factor was a medical event.

The number of fatal crashes removed from the official road‑toll dataset because they were determined to be caused by a medical event.

The exact Police or CAS factor codes, definitions, or descriptors used to classify a crash as a medical event.

The number of cases currently coded as “suspected medical event” or equivalent where coronial findings are pending.

B. Drug‑Related Crashes (2023, 2024, 2025) For each of the last three calendar years, please provide:

The number of fatal crashes where drugs were recorded as a contributing factor.

The number of serious‑injury crashes where drugs were recorded as a contributing factor.

The number of minor‑injury crashes where drugs were recorded as a contributing factor.

The number of fatal crashes where both alcohol and drugs were contributing factors.

The factor codes, definitions, or descriptors used to classify drug involvement.

The number of cases initially coded as “pending toxicology” that were later updated to “drug‑related.”

C. Classification and Data‑Handling Procedures Please provide:

The internal Police guidance, instructions, or criteria used to determine when a crash is classified as:

a medical event

drug‑related

alcohol‑related

excluded from the official road toll

Any procedures or thresholds used when updating crash records following coronial findings or toxicology results.

D. Format
Please provide the information in tabular form (CSV, XLSX, or similar), or as a structured table in your response.

E. Administrative Notes
To avoid unnecessary delay:

If any part of this request is considered too broad, please identify the specific part and provide all remaining items.

If any information is not held by Police but is held by another agency, please transfer that portion under section 14 of the OIA.

If coronial delays affect final classification, please provide the current Police coding and note which cases are pending.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34473 email]

Is [New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================

WARNING

The information contained in this email message is intended for the addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Nigel

 

This email acknowledges your below request for information made under the
Official Information Act 1982, which has been transferred to our agency by
NZ Police.

 

Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate section of NZ Transport
Agency Waka Kotahi for response. They will contact you if they require
clarification of your request, more time to respond, or if your request
has been transferred to another organisation to respond to. Unless more
time is required, NZ Transport Agency will send a response to you within
20 working days of receiving your request – in this instance on or before
13 May 2026.

 

If you would like to discuss your request with NZ Transport Agency, please
contact us by email at [1][email address].

 

Ngā mihi

 

Ministerial Services
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

[2]Connect with us on Social Media

 

[3][IMG]

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Nigel Gray <[4][FOI #34473 email]>

Sent: Saturday, 11 April 2026 8:58 pm

To: Ministerial Services <[5][email address]>

Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information
Act Request – Medical‑Event and Drug‑Related Crashes (2023–2025)

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police
Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the
sender and are assured that the content is safe.

 

NZ Police – National Road Policing Centre / Ministerial Services

Subject: Official Information Act Request – Medical‑Event and Drug‑Related
Crashes (2023–2025)

 

I am requesting the following information under the Official Information
Act 1982.

To avoid ambiguity, each item refers specifically to data recorded or held
by NZ Police, including but not limited to the Crash Analysis System
(CAS), Police crash reports, and any internal classification or coding
guidance.

 

A. Medical‑Event Crashes (2023, 2024, 2025) For each of the last three
calendar years, please provide:

 

The number of fatal crashes where the primary contributing factor was
recorded as a medical event.

 

The number of serious‑injury crashes where the primary contributing factor
was a medical event.

 

The number of minor‑injury crashes where the primary contributing factor
was a medical event.

 

The number of fatal crashes removed from the official road‑toll dataset
because they were determined to be caused by a medical event.

 

The exact Police or CAS factor codes, definitions, or descriptors used to
classify a crash as a medical event.

 

The number of cases currently coded as “suspected medical event” or
equivalent where coronial findings are pending.

 

B. Drug‑Related Crashes (2023, 2024, 2025) For each of the last three
calendar years, please provide:

 

The number of fatal crashes where drugs were recorded as a contributing
factor.

 

The number of serious‑injury crashes where drugs were recorded as a
contributing factor.

 

The number of minor‑injury crashes where drugs were recorded as a
contributing factor.

 

The number of fatal crashes where both alcohol and drugs were contributing
factors.

 

The factor codes, definitions, or descriptors used to classify drug
involvement.

 

The number of cases initially coded as “pending toxicology” that were
later updated to “drug‑related.”

 

C. Classification and Data‑Handling Procedures Please provide:

 

The internal Police guidance, instructions, or criteria used to determine
when a crash is classified as:

 

a medical event

 

drug‑related

 

alcohol‑related

 

excluded from the official road toll

 

Any procedures or thresholds used when updating crash records following
coronial findings or toxicology results.

 

D. Format

Please provide the information in tabular form (CSV, XLSX, or similar), or
as a structured table in your response.

 

E. Administrative Notes

To avoid unnecessary delay:

 

If any part of this request is considered too broad, please identify the
specific part and provide all remaining items.

 

If any information is not held by Police but is held by another agency,
please transfer that portion under section 14 of the OIA.

 

If coronial delays affect final classification, please provide the current
Police coding and note which cases are pending.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Nigel Gray

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #34473 email]

 

Is [7][New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[8]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[9]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This message, together with any attachments, may contain information that
is classified and/or subject to legal privilege. Any classification
markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in any
way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us
immediately by return email and then destroy the original message. This
communication may be accessed or retained by NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi for information assurance purposes.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/conn...
3. https://nzta.govt.nz/
4. mailto:[FOI #34473 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[FOI #34473 email]
7. mailto:[New Zealand Police request email]
8. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
9. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Nigel  

 

Please find attached the response to your request of 11 April 2026 for
information under the Official Information Act 1982.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Ministerial Services
Te Waka Kōtuia | Engagement & Partnerships
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

[1]Connect with us on Social Media

 

[2][IMG]

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Nigel Gray <[3][FOI #34473 email]>

Sent: Saturday, 11 April 2026 8:58 pm

To: Ministerial Services <[4][email address]>

Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - Official Information
Act Request – Medical‑Event and Drug‑Related Crashes (2023–2025)

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the New Zealand Police
Network. DO NOT click links or open attachments unless you recognise the
sender and are assured that the content is safe.

 

NZ Police – National Road Policing Centre / Ministerial Services

Subject: Official Information Act Request – Medical‑Event and Drug‑Related
Crashes (2023–2025)

 

I am requesting the following information under the Official Information
Act 1982.

To avoid ambiguity, each item refers specifically to data recorded or held
by NZ Police, including but not limited to the Crash Analysis System
(CAS), Police crash reports, and any internal classification or coding
guidance.

 

A. Medical‑Event Crashes (2023, 2024, 2025) For each of the last three
calendar years, please provide:

 

The number of fatal crashes where the primary contributing factor was
recorded as a medical event.

 

The number of serious‑injury crashes where the primary contributing factor
was a medical event.

 

The number of minor‑injury crashes where the primary contributing factor
was a medical event.

 

The number of fatal crashes removed from the official road‑toll dataset
because they were determined to be caused by a medical event.

 

The exact Police or CAS factor codes, definitions, or descriptors used to
classify a crash as a medical event.

 

The number of cases currently coded as “suspected medical event” or
equivalent where coronial findings are pending.

 

B. Drug‑Related Crashes (2023, 2024, 2025) For each of the last three
calendar years, please provide:

 

The number of fatal crashes where drugs were recorded as a contributing
factor.

 

The number of serious‑injury crashes where drugs were recorded as a
contributing factor.

 

The number of minor‑injury crashes where drugs were recorded as a
contributing factor.

 

The number of fatal crashes where both alcohol and drugs were contributing
factors.

 

The factor codes, definitions, or descriptors used to classify drug
involvement.

 

The number of cases initially coded as “pending toxicology” that were
later updated to “drug‑related.”

 

C. Classification and Data‑Handling Procedures Please provide:

 

The internal Police guidance, instructions, or criteria used to determine
when a crash is classified as:

 

a medical event

 

drug‑related

 

alcohol‑related

 

excluded from the official road toll

 

Any procedures or thresholds used when updating crash records following
coronial findings or toxicology results.

 

D. Format

Please provide the information in tabular form (CSV, XLSX, or similar), or
as a structured table in your response.

 

E. Administrative Notes

To avoid unnecessary delay:

 

If any part of this request is considered too broad, please identify the
specific part and provide all remaining items.

 

If any information is not held by Police but is held by another agency,
please transfer that portion under section 14 of the OIA.

 

If coronial delays affect final classification, please provide the current
Police coding and note which cases are pending.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Nigel Gray

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FOI #34473 email]

 

Is [6][New Zealand Police request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests to New Zealand Police? If so, please contact us using
this form:

[7]https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[8]https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

This message, together with any attachments, may contain information that
is classified and/or subject to legal privilege. Any classification
markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you
must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in any
way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us
immediately by return email and then destroy the original message. This
communication may be accessed or retained by NZ Transport Agency Waka
Kotahi for information assurance purposes.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/conn...
2. https://nzta.govt.nz/
3. mailto:[FOI #34473 email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[FOI #34473 email]
6. mailto:[New Zealand Police request email]
7. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
8. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

hide quoted sections