Police and specialists are warning of the rising use of stolen vehicles as mobile meth labs - which are sometimes returned to unsuspecting owners after being contaminated.

Culturally important substances such as kava could be captured by a law change which aims to stamp out harmful synthetic drugs, MPs have told Parliament.

A 3-month-old baby was the youngest of 17 children found by police living in unsafe drug houses during the annual cannabis blitz.

More than 100 people entered a Tauranga store to buy the controversial synthetic cannabis Kryptonite yesterday morning.

Two teenagers say a new legal high they smoked contained ecstasy - and left them vomiting with no control over their muscles or bodily functions.

A hidden camera caught more than 3500 cars or people visiting the fortified home of a major methamphetamine supplier who lived across the road from a school.

All Black coaching staff were shocked by the "inappropriate" antics of some heavy-drinking players while they were on tour.

A New Zealander who injected a friend with heroin at a drug-fuelled Sydney stag night has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The possible health risks of long-term use of synthetic cannabis have begun to emerge - with the risk of suicide and self-harm in users alarming health professionals.

An increasing obsession with appearance and body shape has led to a spike in the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in gymnasiums.

A judge has compared Blair Matthew Colligan's provision of LSD and ecstasy to members of his drugs ring to an employer providing his staff with tea and biscuits.

The New Zealand Rugby League have become interested bystanders to the Australian Crime Commission's investigation into drugs in sport as they try to plan the Kiwis' World Cup defence.

The NRL says it is not yet in a position to notify what are believed to be six clubs that have been under investigation as part of the explosive probe into Australian sport.

Capri clinic in Auckland runs the country's only one-month intensive rehab programme, according to drug and alcohol counsellor Roger Brooking.

Increased efforts by the Government and law enforcement to tackle the country's methamphetamine problem have failed to dent the drug trade, according to a classified police report.

Organised crime is infiltrating Australian sport, cashing in on massive potential profits through drugs, match-fixing and betting, a year-long investigation has revealed.

A New Zealand woman described as a pharmacological nightmare will be deported from Australia after running over and killing two teenage boys while high on prescription medication.

Sir Paul Holmes was best known for his radio and TV work. But he was a great columnist for the Herald on Sunday. Here is one of his most moving pieces, written the year he was named best columnist at the print media awards.

Police say a young trio allegedly abducted a van driver and forced him to drive them to McDonald's for a feed.