Already illegal: Simeon Brown says police should enforce law on meth pipes
Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Health Minister Simeon Brown says meth pipe sales are already illegal and he wants police to do more to enforce this.
It comes as an Auckland businessman reported a new store selling bongs and meth pipes to police and claims he was told by an officer it was “perfectly legal” and they saw no reason to visit.
Recent advice from the Ministry of Health prepared for Brown made clear it was illegal to possess, import and supply any utensil that may be used to administer or prepare a controlled drug.
The advice suggested the issue was not with the law but with enforcement.
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Attention has been drawn to meth pipes being sold in $2 shops, vape stores and dairies after it was reported a Whangārei local was campaigning to rid shops of the drug utensils, concerned the pipes were on open display around children and were contributing to Northland’s drug problem.
Brown sought advice on tightening laws and current settings last month, after confusion emerged over the act defining possession with intent to use as an offence, while a separate notice classified importation, sale and supply as offences.
Brown considered tightening rules around sale at the time but he said to reporters on Tuesday the advice was “very clear” that the sale of meth pipes was illegal.
The Ministry of Health said improving compliance with the existing law would likely require greater awareness from police, retailers and the public, and recommended Brown discuss with Police Minister Mark Mitchell about how well the law was understood and enforced.
“The advice is very clearly that enforcement needs to be needs to be focused on, so that advice has been passed on to Mark Mitchell, and that's up to police,” Brown said.
‘Perfectly legal’
An Auckland businessman, who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity, claimed he was told by a police officer the sale of bongs and meth pipes was “perfectly legal” and police would intervene only if there was evidence the devices were being used to consume illegal drugs.
After he emailed a complaint, police visited the store. An email seen by The Post confirmed officers found the items displayed on shelves without labels.
In the email, police said they were discussing the issue with their bosses and their legal team, but warned that “this is not going to get solved overnight“
Mitchell said it would not be uncommon for a frontline police officer, especially a new constable, to not know all the laws around meth pipes.
He said police and health will be giving directions on how it plans to respond to widespread sales.
“We don't want harm, we don't want meth in the community … so that's quite simply my expectation,” he said.
Police have been asked for comment but did not respond by deadline.