Cocaine Consumption Reaches Record Levels in New Zealand Amid Global Supply Glut and Shift in User Perception

New Zealand's cocaine consumption nearly doubles in a year as high supply and an image of affluence drive weekly use to 9.4kg despite record prices.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from RNZ

Wastewater Data Confirms Unprecedented Market Growth

The latest drug monitoring figures released by the National Drug Intelligence Bureau indicate a sharp proportional jump in cocaine consumption across Aotearoa. Testing conducted between October and December 2025, covering 77 percent of the population, shows that weekly use has risen by 98 percent compared to the previous four quarters. While methamphetamine remains the most consumed stimulant at 34.7kg per week, cocaine's rapid ascent from just 1kg per week in 2019 suggests a significant shift in the national drug landscape. Police Assistant Commissioner Corrie Parnell noted that the market's growth has occurred without a reduction in street level pricing, signaling exceptionally strong demand.

The Influence of Global Production and Trade Isolation

For decades, New Zealand’s geographic isolation and unique trade position shielded it from the cultural cocaine peaks seen in North America and Europe during the 1980s. However, Chris Wilkins, leader of the drug research team at Massey University, explained that a current global glut in coca production has finally reached New Zealand's shores. Organized criminal groups increasingly view the country as a lucrative market due to high profit margins. This influx of supply is driven by record levels of cultivation in South America and the development of more efficient production and diversification of supply chains into the Pacific region.

Affluence and the Illusion of a Healthy Drug

Data from the 2025 New Zealand Drug Trends Survey paints a specific profile of the typical cocaine user: overwhelmingly European, male, and financially well off. With 42 percent of surveyed users earning more than $80,000 annually, the drug has become a sign of status and affluence. Wilkins suggested that cocaine is currently in a "honeymoon phase" in New Zealand, where it is perceived as an exotic, low risk alternative to methamphetamine. This "clean" image has successfully driven demand among professionals, despite the significant cardiovascular risks and potential for compulsive redosing and addiction.