8487 (2026). Kahurangi Carter to the Minister of Police

8487 (2026). Kahurangi Carter to the Minister of Police: Were any aerial cannabis operations deployed during any states of emergency for severe weather this term, and if so, which severe weather events?

Hon Mark Mitchell: I am advised that, during this term, two out of five aerial cannabis operation deployments continued while coinciding with serve weather events that resulted in declarations of a state of emergency. The remaining three flying operations were cancelled. The two operations that proceeded occurred during: • the precautionary state of emergency declared in the Whangārei district, Northland, on 20 January 2026 and 3 February 2026, following the impact of previous storms and; • the state of emergency declared in the Waipa district, Waikato, on the 14 February 2026 due to heavy rain and flooding.