Cocaine use up 112% in Canterbury - as record-breaking spike sparks call for policy shift

Monday, 23 March 2026

New Zealand’s cocaine consumption has hit an all-time high, and while the problem appears to be concentrated around the North Island, Canterbury has not escaped unscathed.

On Monday, Police released their latest wastewater drug measurements, covering the last three months of 2025. They showed an alarming spike in cocaine use, with New Zealanders consuming an estimated 9.4kg of the Class A drug per week – 98% higher than the average amount recorded over the previous four quarters.

Every single policing district recorded a rise, but methamphetamine was still dominant. Kiwis consumed about 34.7kg per week, about 8% higher than the last four quarters’ average.

Police estimates suggest that from October to December last year, cocaine use was costing about $3.5 million per week in social harm, while meth was costing the country $36.4m.

The data also showed a significant rise in cocaine use across Canterbury, up 112% compared to its average amount over the last four quarters. Still, it recorded the fourth-lowest per capita cocaine consumption.

This was coupled with a modest bump in methamphetamine use. But the region also had the second lowest meth consumption per capita of any policing district, beaten only by the Southern district – which spans Otago and Southland.

Cantabrians consumed an average of 765mg of meth per day for every thousand people. In comparison, Northland had the highest average consumption, at 1962mg per day for each thousand people.

When it came to MDMA, it was at the other end of the spectrum. Canterbury had the third-highest per capita consumption of the party drug of any policing district in the last three months of 2025, and was one of only four districts to have this figure rise on its average over the last four quarters.

Police said they were disappointed by the increasing drug use across the country.

While the factors influencing drug use were varied, they said globally, availability and pricing were having an impact.

Assistant Commissioner Corrie Parnell said their focus was targeting and disrupting supply chains.

“Police [have] carried out a number of major operations targeting gangs and other organised crime groups. A recent example was a joint Police-Customs investigation, which targeted a syndicate allegedly smuggling class A drugs through unattended baggage, primarily through Auckland Airport.”

Eight associates of the Brotherhood 28 motorcycle club were arrested, and officers seized 36kgs of cocaine, he said, which “may have prevented up to $13m worth of social harm to our communities”.

New Zealand’s Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime strategy also saw 28 government agencies all working towards making the country “an unattractive place for organised crime groups to conduct their business”, Parnell said.

“Police are focused daily on the enforcement of those importing and supplying these illicit drugs and remind our community that we can all play a part in reducing the social harm and misery that drugs cause, by reporting any suspicious activity or information which may help us to stop those involved in these types of crimes.”

But the NZ Drug Foundation said the record-breaking cocaine consumption was evidence the country’s current approach was failing. Executive director Sarah Helm said the “dramatic increases” in meth and cocaine consumption over the last two years were unprecedented.

“A long-term under-investment in treatment and harm reduction, coupled with an over-reliance on supply side measures hasn’t worked,” she said.

“Consumption is at record levels, drug use is diversifying, prices are down, harm is increasing, and new potent drugs are arriving. Every indicator is screaming at us to change our approach.”

The Government last week announced a new plan to reduce substance harm. But the Drug Foundation said there needed to be a more fundamental shift.

“If we could wave a magic wand, we would do two things: vastly increase the spending on addiction treatment and harm reduction, and change our drug laws,” she said. “But if we continue doing more of the same, things will continue to get worse.”

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said drug harm, especially related to methamphetamine, was “an extremely difficult issue”, one National was “working hard” to turn around.

“This is not something we can change overnight, and we do expect wastewater results to remain volatile. What we’re wanting to see is sustained decreases over time. So, we’ll be continuing to monitor this closely.”

The Government was making “good progress” on its methamphetamine action plan, announced in November last year, he said.

'We know gangs play a significant role, and Police have more powers than ever before to go after them. We are seeing positive results.'