NZ Drug Foundation

What NZ Drug Foundation does

The NZ Drug Foundation (legal name: New Zealand Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri) is a New Zealand charitable trust founded in 1989 and registered under the Charities Act 2005 (No. CC27025). Headquartered in Wellington with a second operational office on Dominion Road in Auckland, the Foundation operates as a licensed drug checking service provider and runs New Zealand's most established harm reduction programme, encompassing public drug checking clinics, online harm reduction information (The Level at thelevel.org.nz), early warning of dangerous substances (High Alert), student wellbeing (Tūturu), alcohol support (Living Sober), event-sector harm reduction (Drugs at Events), and policy advocacy for evidence-based drug law reform.

Core technology centres on a spectrometer-based drug checking workflow that matches sample light waveform readings against a database of more than 25,000 substances, supplemented by reagent chemical tests and fentanyl/benzodiazepine test strips, with ESR providing confirmatory testing. The Foundation runs 11 distinct digital products and sub-brands, supports 197,494 online users of substance use support per year (2024/25), and tested 3,123 drug samples across 141 clinics in 19 venues in 2024 — a 23.5% year-on-year increase and 87% growth since the service launched in 2022.

The Foundation's business model is a non-profit, grant-and-donation funded structure. All services are provided free to the public. Funding comes from government sources (Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand/Te Whatu Ora), corporate grants (including Unilever), private donations, and individual contributions via donate.drugfoundation.org.nz. The go-to-market motion is community-led, combining walk-in clinics, peer outreach, community hui, school programmes, employer resources, and event-based harm reduction delivery, supported by an extensive partner ecosystem that includes Hato Hone St. John, KnowYourStuffNZ, DISC Trust, Te Hiringa Hauora, Te Rau Ora, ESR, and the University of Auckland.

Name

NZ Drug Foundation

Legal name

New Zealand Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri

Website

https://drugfoundation.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The NZ Drug Foundation is a New Zealand charitable trust (founded 1989) that delivers licensed drug checking, harm reduction services, and drug policy advocacy nationwide. It serves people who use drugs, young people, employers, and event organisers through The Level platform, 19 clinic venues, and free resource distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drug Harm Reduction Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK), Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Services (EDALAFAE)

Keywords

• Drug harm reduction
• Drug checking services
• Harm reduction advocacy
• Drug policy reform
• Substance use support

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The organisation receives government funding as a primary source of financial support for its operations and programs.
2. Corporate and Private Grants: Funding from corporate grants and private donations supplements government funding.
3. Individual Donations: Individual donations from members of the public support the organisation's work. A donation page is available at donate.drugfoundation.org.nz.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The NZ Drug Foundation provides drug harm reduction services across Aotearoa New Zealand, including free and confidential licensed drug checking clinics, online harm reduction information via The Level platform, distribution of fentanyl and nitazene test strips, drug policy advocacy and law reform submissions, community and school education programs, and workplace and event-sector guidance. All services are delivered free of charge, supported by government funding, grants, and donations.

Product overview

The NZ Drug Foundation operates a multi-platform harm reduction ecosystem comprising primarily digital services. The core offerings include The Level (thelevel.org.nz), an online harm reduction platform providing drug information and support; licensed Drug Checking Services operating across multiple venues in New Zealand; and the Resources and Publications store. Supporting platforms include Tūturu (student wellbeing), Drugs at Events (event organiser toolkit), Living Sober (alcohol support community), and High Alert (early warning system). The organization also maintains a comprehensive Drugs A-Z database, the Did You Know video series for youth education, community response guidance for volatile substances, and advocacy tools like the Good Samaritan Submission Builder. These products work together to provide a spectrum of harm reduction services from prevention education to direct intervention support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Level: A straight up guide for people who use drugs, providing drug information and harm reduction advice.
• Tūturu
• Drugs at Events

Products and services

• The Level (thelevel.org.nz) A straight-up guide for people who use drugs, providing the latest information and harm reduction advice about drugs in Aotearoa, including drug information, support and advice, and overdose prevention. Reached 174,818 users in 2024/25.
• Drug Checking Services Free, legal, and confidential drug checking service that analyses substances to identify contents and provides harm reduction information. Operates as a licensed service provider with 141 clinics held across 19 venues in 2024 (3,123 samples tested, up 23.5% from 2,602 in 2023 and 87% growth since service started in 2022).
• Tūturu A school-based wellbeing program addressing alcohol and other drug issues among students, providing schools with structured resources and support.
• Drugs at Events Resources and toolkit to reduce drug harm at events and festivals, providing event organisers with step-by-step guides for drug management plans, safe spaces, and harm reduction approaches.
• Living Sober Online community where people can talk safely and honestly with others about their relationship with alcohol, offering peer support for those seeking to make changes.
• High Alert Early warning system that detects risky substances in the illicit drug market, especially new, misrepresented, or unexpected adulterants, and alerts communities across Aotearoa.
• Resources and Publications Free printed harm reduction resources (guides, school resources, parent guides, workplace materials, volatile substances resources) distributed across New Zealand via resources.drugfoundation.org.nz.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,494 nitazene and fentanyl test strips distributed in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hato Hone St. JohncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with the Foundation, Te Hiringa Hauora, and KnowYourStuffNZ to develop the Drugs at Events toolkit for event organisers. Also works alongside the Foundation to support people having challenging drug experiences at events.
• KnowYourStuffNZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA licensed drug checking service provider that operates alongside the NZ Drug Foundation and DISC Trust across Aotearoa. Part of the collaborative drug checking ecosystem.
• Drug Injecting Services Canterbury (DISC) TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA licensed drug checking service provider operating in the Canterbury region alongside the NZ Drug Foundation and KnowYourStuffNZ.
• Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR)coreTechnology or IntegrationNew Zealand's government research agency providing confirmatory testing for drug checking samples, equipment maintenance, and scientific guidance for the Foundation's licensed drug checking services.
• Te Hiringa HauoracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth promotion agency that partnered with the Foundation, Hato Hone St. John, and KnowYourStuffNZ to develop the Drugs at Events toolkit. Also provides the Intoxication Assessment Tool referenced by the Foundation.
• Te Rau OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with the Foundation to develop harm reduction practice values in Aotearoa, working with the sector and hundreds of people who use drugs at hui and forums including hui Maori.
• DeepspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation that works alongside the Foundation supporting people having challenging drug experiences at events.
• PsycareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation that works alongside the Foundation supporting people having challenging drug experiences at events.
• University of AucklandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolds a drug checking license for specific projects on psychedelics, working alongside the Foundation's licensed drug checking services.
• Health New Zealand - Te Whatu OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Health Promotion resources including the Drugs at Events toolkit, working with the Foundation and the events sector working group to share expertise and reduce drug harm at events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ANKORS: BC, Canada harm reduction network that runs drug checking services using spectrometer and reagent technology, plus fentanyl test strip distribution and community education. Directly comparable as a regional harm reduction hub integrating drug checking with broader community services.
• DISC Trust: Drug Information and Support Centre Trust operating licensed drug checking services in Canterbury alongside the NZ Drug Foundation. Directly comparable in harm reduction service delivery and geographic focus within NZ's drug checking ecosystem.
• Canadian Drug Policy Coalition: Canadian policy advocacy coalition promoting drug law reform and evidence-based harm reduction approaches. Comparable in policy advocacy function and reform-oriented positioning, though with a more policy-focused rather than service-delivery model.
• The Loop UK: UK-based charity providing drug checking services at festivals and community locations, plus harm reduction resources. Directly comparable as a non-profit drug checking organisation delivering spectrometer-based substance analysis with public-facing education.
• DanceSafe: US-based 501(c)(3) harm reduction organisation providing reagent drug checking, fentanyl test strip distribution, and nightlife-based education. Directly comparable in mission and service mix (drug checking + test strips + community education) though operating in a different regulatory context.
• KnowYourStuffNZ: Licensed drug checking service provider operating alongside the NZ Drug Foundation across Aotearoa. Directly comparable in service model (spectrometer-based drug checking at events and clinics) and harm reduction mission, sharing the same ESR confirmatory testing partner.

Others

• Hato Hone St John: New Zealand ambulance and event medical services provider that co-developed the Drugs at Events toolkit and works alongside the Foundation at events. Comparable as a healthcare ecosystem partner delivering on-the-ground event harm reduction alongside the Foundation.
• Health New Zealand — Te Whatu Ora: Government health agency that commissions Health Promotion resources from the NZ Drug Foundation and partners on the Drugs at Events toolkit. Comparable as a healthcare ecosystem participant and primary government funder/commissioner relationship.
• Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR): New Zealand Crown Research Institute providing confirmatory testing, equipment maintenance, and scientific guidance underpinning the Foundation's licensed drug checking services. Comparable as the scientific backbone / enabling partner of the drug checking operation.

Regional players

• Alcohol and Drug Foundation (Australia): Australia's leading harm prevention charity focused on alcohol and other drugs, delivering community education and workplace programs across the Tasman. Closest cross-jurisdictional peer given similar mission, charitable structure, and workplace/education-focused programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nzdrug

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NZ Drug Foundation