Children as young as 11 are getting hooked on synthetic cannabis in a Napier suburb known for being a popular source of the drug.
Radio New Zealand reported that the Napier suburb of Maraenui had become known as a hotbed of synthetic cannabis.
A former user told RNZ that her two children were taken from her by Oranga Tamariki.
"The day they turned up to take my babies I was high as a kite."
The mother said she was now in rehab and trying to give up synthetic drugs, but it was difficult when it was "everywhere".