Nitrous oxide – while used for things like whipping cream in the catering industry – is also being misused for an illegal high, and its imports have been increasing in recent years.
Assistant Police Commissioner Tusha Penny said there is growing concern over drivers consuming the gas behind the wheel, which is also known as nangs, nos or laughing gas.
"Only two weeks ago one of our district commanders was driving in a marked car with one of the constables talking about this very issue," Penny said.
"The constable said turn to your right and there you had a passenger and a driver huffing out of a balloon."
Police are cracking down on retailers selling cream chargers illegally for non-catering purposes.
It has issued 179 warning letters to retailers, and Penny said enforcement was underway.
"We do do operations where we go in and actually try and purchase for recreational use and of course that's seen us taking enforcement action in one of the districts, Bay of Plenty."
Penalties include a fine of up to $500,000 or two years imprisonment.
Nitrous oxide imports have increased four fold over the last eight years according to data from Stats NZ.
Imports in 2025 exceeded those in 2024, with 1091 tonnes entering the country.
Ministry of Health chief medical officer Dr Joe Bourne said that has potential to cause adverse health effects.
"It can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, impairment of your functioning and where we're concerned is we're hearing from the police that it's being used alongside other drugs and alcohol and wherever you combine two drugs it accentuates the negative effects that it can have," Bourne said.
Long-term use can lead to muscle weakness and coordination problems.
1News has spoken to a number of retailers who said while they do not stock cream chargers, customers were frequently asking for them.
Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young said some retailers were bearing the brunt.
"What we're hearing is that some youth are going out and they're stealing from a store, selling the goods that they've stolen on the black market to get cash and using that cash to go in and buy nangs."
New South Wales has been exploring tighter restrictions around the sale and purchase of nitrous oxide.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the Government is concerned by the rise in imports and seeking advice on it, with a number of short and long term options being considered.
"We have already increased penalties but there's clearly more work that needs to be done."
Nitrous oxide is classified as a psychoactive substance, while other countries like the UK have now classified it as a Class C drug.
The Government said it is getting advice on that option.
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