Police Minister Mark Mitchell has asked government officials to look at a new idea: a law that would let people call for emergency help during a drug overdose without fear of being arrested.

Right now, if someone overdoses, the people around them sometimes don't call 111 because they worry about getting in trouble with police. That delay can cost lives.

Other countries have already tried this. They passed laws that protect people from arrest when they call for help during an overdose. Australia, the United States, Canada and parts of Europe all have versions of these laws. They work in different ways — some protect just the person who makes the call, others protect everyone at the scene.

New Zealand Police can already choose not to arrest someone at an overdose scene, but that's not the same as a law that guarantees protection. Harm reduction experts say that only a law — not just a police choice — actually makes people confident enough to pick up the phone in a crisis.

Mitchell hasn't decided whether to go ahead with this. He's just asked officials to look at what options exist and report back. There's no timeline, and no promise that anything will happen.

Before Parliament, Mitchell worked as a police officer and security contractor. He's been the Police Minister since late 2023 and represents Rodney as a National MP. He's one of the longest-serving Cabinet members in the current government.

If officials recommend going ahead, there's still the question of whether the government would actually pass a law. New Zealand First wants tougher drug laws. ACT wants looser ones. National is somewhere in the middle. Any new law would need all three parties to agree.

For harm reduction groups, getting Mitchell to ask for advice is a start — but it doesn't mean change will happen. Officials might recommend against it. Or they might suggest a different approach. Either way, these groups will be watching carefully to see what gets recommended and whether it becomes public.