Random roadside drug testing was seen as a key action point in the Government's 2040 Road to Zero strategy target to reduce road deaths and injuries by 40%.
But it turns out the kits required to carry out those roadside tests simply don't exist.
In a statement, Road to Zero director Bryan Sherritt confirmed "random roadside drug testing of saliva will not be coming in from 11 March 2023, as an appropriate device could not be found following the procurement and testing process".
Saliva testing kits, the crucial technology police need to enforce it, don’t exist. (Source: 1News)
Associate Transport Minister Kiritapu Allan confirmed the rollback last night.
"Police have advised that through their process to identify the appropriate technology to carry out testing to a level of accuracy that can be use at the roadside, it doesn’t yet exist," she said.
The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act will still come into effect on March 11, meaning new offences and infringements will come into force.
But police won't have all the promised tools at their disposal.
Sarah Helm from the NZ Drug Foundation said postponing it was the right decision as the science was not yet clear. (Source: Breakfast)
In a statement, Automobile Association (AA) road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said the AA "is extremely disappointed at this news".
"Not introducing roadside drug testing this year is a terrible move for road safety," he said.
The AA is now calling on the Government to urgently "come up with a different way to introduce a roadside drug testing approach that will allow substantial numbers of drivers to be tested and get the people currently driving high to fear that they could get caught".
The sentiment was echoed by New Zealand Police Association President Chris Cahill, who called the revelation "quite a surprise" and "pretty disappointing".
"It's pretty hard to understand why you'd introduce legislation if there wasn't actually technology that goes along with it," he said.
"It's certainly not going to be the game-changer we thought this legislation would be."
Across the ditch, some Australian police forces do have access to saliva testing kits, although this rollback would suggest the bar set by the New Zealand authorities was higher.
"The element of the legislation in question was designed to minimise drug driver harm and we remain committed to that purpose," Allan said.
During submissions on the amendment, the Government was advised this situation could arise, with an August 2022 briefing from the police to then-incoming Police Minister — now Prime Minister — Chris Hipkins noting "challenges with implementing this legislation".
National Party transport spokesperson Simeon Brown said it was "simply not good enough and it is Kiwis that will suffer the consequences of this failed rollout".
"Not only does randomised roadside drug testing act as a deterrent to drug driving, but it also directly saves lives on our roads. It is crucial that setting up randomised roadside drug testing be a priority for the Government," he said.
"While Transport Minister Michael Wood continues to seek more advice, every day that goes by without random roadside drug testing is another day that puts New Zealanders' lives at risk on our roads."
Roadside testing is still the goal, Sherritt said.
"Te Manatū Waka (Ministry of Transport) and police officials are currently developing further advice for ministers on the next steps for random roadside drug testing," he said.
"In the meantime, police will continue identifying drug drivers using their compulsory impairment test (CIT) and seek an appropriate laboratory blood test to confirm the presence or concentration level of qualifying drugs."
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