Psychoactive Substances Policy

Submissions closed on 03 June 2024, 05:00 PM

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Our Psychoactive Substances Policy specifies where businesses selling formerly approved synthetic drugs, like party pills, herbal highs and synthetic cannabis, can be located in the Whangārei District and what hours they can open.

There are no longer any approved products for the Policy to regulate, so we proposed to revoke it. We wanted to hear your views on this proposal.

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 requires Council to consult with the public on any proposed changes to the Policy.

The Statement of Proposal sets out what we are proposing and the reasons for it. We recommend you read the statement in full to understand the context for this proposal.

Statement of Proposal(PDF, 764KB)

How we got here

You can read the discussions and decisions that led to this proposal below.

Council Briefing agenda report:  26 March 2024

Council Meeting agenda report:  24 April 2024

Tell us what you think

Submissions closed at 5:00pm on Monday 3 June 2024.

Some people who have provided feedback may also want to speak to Elected Members in chambers on their submission.

Please let us know if you choose to do this on the submission form and you will be scheduled a formal hearing on 6 June 2024.

This notice is given pursuant to sections 83 and 87 of the Local Government Act 2002.

Anyone interested in the proposal may make a submission between 1 May 2024 and 3 June 2024. This will be followed by a formal hearing where any submitter may choose to speak to their submission.

Submissions may be made to Council by using the submission forms on this page.

The hard-copy documents are available at our Customer Service Centres:

Te Iwitahi
9 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
Hours:  Monday to Friday – 8:00am to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays
Summer holiday closedown: Closed from 4:00pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopening at 8:00am on Monday 6 January 2025

Ruakākā service centre 
9 Takutai Place, Ruakākā
Hours:  Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 4:00pm
Closed public holidays
Summer holiday closedown: Closed from 4:00pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and reopening at 8:30am on Monday 6 January 2025

Service centre at isite
92 Otaika Road, Raumanga
Hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 12:00pm and 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Closed public holidays

Please ensure that you provide appropriate contact details so that we can respond to you following the conclusion of the process.

All submissions are considered public under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act and may be published and made available to Elected Members and the public.

The collection and use of personal information by Whangarei District Council is regulated by the Privacy Act 2020.

Privacy Statement

Your submission will not be returned to you once it is lodged with Council. Please keep a copy for your reference.

All feedback received will be provided to Council. Staff will also review and analyse the feedback received and provide this analysis to Council.

Council will then deliberate on all the information provided and make a final decision on the proposal.