The decision to charge a man with spitting "HIV-infected saliva" at police officers has come under fire, as a leading advocacy group says it stigmatises people with the illness and "perpetuates ignorance".
A Wellington man faces trial next month on a slew of charges arising from an incident in August in Porirua, including assaulting police and damaging police property.
But three charges in particular have come under the microscope as police allege the 34-year-old Wellingtonian "committed a criminal nuisance by doing an unlawful act, namely spitting HIV-infected saliva, knowing that such [an] act would endanger the health of [the officers]".
Police are defending laying the charges but New Zealand Aids Foundation executive director Shaun Robinson said HIV could not be spread through saliva.
"It is surprising that such a phrase could be used as there is absolutely no danger to anyone from contact with the saliva of a person living with HIV," Mr Robinson said.