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Roadside drug testing will see innocent drivers ticketed – cannabis advocates

Published

2 years ago

June 19, 2024

The government’s pledge to implement up to 50,000 random roadside drug tests a year could see thousands of innocent drivers ticketed, cannabis advocates say.

The advocates say saliva testing devices are unreliable and the impact of the drug on driving ability was yet to be conclusively established.

Transport Minister Simeon Brown said cannabis altered a person’s sense of time and distance, increased their reaction time and affected co-ordination.

But a member of a research team conducting on track driving trials of medicinal cannabis users at Melbourne’s Swinburne University said it was not so simple.

The study will compare the on track driving performance of 72 patients who used medical cannabis products containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive component of cannabis – to determine whether they were safe to drive.

Dr Amie Hayley said the presence of varying levels of THC in a person’s blood or saliva was not enough to infer someone was unsafe at the wheel.

“Unlike alcohol, which has a quite linear relationship between the more that you consume the more impaired that you are, THC does not show that relationship. Which is what makes this idea of the presence of THC as a proxy for impairment such a difficult and scientifically unsound concept,” she said.

Hayley said the build up of THC in person’s system – as well as variables like their weight and gender – could influence detectable levels of the drug without necessarily effecting that person’s ability to drive.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws spokesperson Chris Fowlie said Australian research into similar saliva testing devices as proposed for use in New Zealand showed they gave false positive results more than 20 percent of the time.

“You’re going to end up with false positives where you’re actually pinging people who aren’t impaired because you’re detecting outside the typical three to four hour window of potential impairment and you’re actually picking up metabolites or THC itself, which can hang around for up to several days in regular users including medical users,” Fowlie said.

Green MP Julie Anne Genter – who worked on the select committee during the previous government’s attempts to establish a national testing framework – said experts raised serious concerns about the limitations of the devices.

“It’s going to be very, very difficult to have a regime that accurately can detect that somebody is impaired or not and it will end up penalising people who are not impaired and who are legally using something that has stayed in their system and they’re using it for pain relief or to assist with sleep or anxiety and this could have really adverse consequences for ordinary people who are obeying the law and who are going about their lives and simply taking a prescription medication and driving afterwards,” Genter said.

But Brown said drivers would only be penalised if at least one of two positive saliva tests was backed up by a laboratory test.

He said legislation was already in place to allow legal medicinal users to contest an infringement provided they were using the drug in line with their medical advice.

“If the laboratory test is also positive, the driver will be able to contest any infringement notice issued for any prescription medication taken in accordance with a current prescription, and in accordance any instructions from a health practitioner or manufacturer. The police may also have the option of requiring a driver to undertake a compulsory impairment test. Drivers who fail these tests will be required to undertake an evidential blood test,” Brown said.

Automobile Association safety spokesperson Dylan Thomas said the presence of drugs in nearly a third of fatal crashes showed the need for an attitude shift in the country’s drivers.

“We don’t want people who are affected by any substances and not seeing things as clearly as they normally do or reacting to things as quickly as they normally would to then get behind the the wheel and and go out on the roads. We see a big part of this is actually about deterrence and changing attitudes. Getting people to think ‘I could be tested, I could be caught, so I’m not going to take the risk’.”

Thomas said any testing regime – however imperfect – was still a powerful tool to encourage drivers to make safer choices before they got behind the wheel.

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Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

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Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

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