New Zealand’s meth problem is still running hot — and the numbers are ugly — but police say the country hasn’t yet seen clear evidence of a matching surge in reported victim crime.
According to nationwide wastewater testing, methamphetamine consumption rose 96% in 2024 compared to 2023, a jump that’s been widely described as a “doubling” in use. The data paints a stark timeline: in the March 2019 quarter, New Zealand was consuming about 15 kilograms per week. By the December 2024 quarter, that climbed to about 36kg per week on average.
The latest national wastewater report, covering January to March 2025 (Q1 2025), shows meth use decreased slightly but remained elevated, averaging an estimated 33kg per week. The report also estimates a massive price tag: meth use across sample sites in Q1 2025 equates to an estimated $34.6 million in social harm every week.
Detective Superintendent Greg Williams described the ongoing levels as “gutting” and “seriously concerning,” warning that meth is a major driver of social harm and can fuel offending even when it’s not immediately obvious in short-term crime trends. He also noted a key uncertainty behind the spike: it’s still unclear whether more people began using meth, or whether existing users simply started using more — something officials say they’re continuing to test and investigate.
So why aren’t crime numbers exploding in the same way?
RNZ reported that police victimisation data does not show a “significant and continuous spike” in crimes with victims — such as assault, burglary, and theft — that directly aligns with the meth increase that began around July 2024. Over the two-year period from July 2023 to June 2025, the national victimisation trend stayed relatively steady, even as meth use surged.
But officials and researchers warn that reported crime can lag behind reality, and not all harm shows up quickly in victimisation stats. Police have also pointed out that meth money feeds organised crime — meaning even if victim crime doesn’t spike immediately, gangs can still profit heavily from higher consumption.
That concern is central to the government’s Ministerial Advisory Group on organised crime, which has pushed the idea of “removing the customers of drug crime” — treating drug demand and addiction pathways as a key part of weakening criminal markets. The group also highlighted pressure on addiction services, arguing that demand reduction and accessible treatment are critical if New Zealand wants to stop the cycle at its source.