FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 28 May 2026
The local hemp industry welcomes the new hemp regulatory framework coming into force on 28 May 2026, with representatives describing the reforms as a major milestone for New Zealand’s emerging hemp industry and an encouraging step towards a more modern, practical, and growth-focused regulatory environment.
These representatives include the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA), the Aotearoa Hemp Alliance (AHA), and the New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council (NZMCC), who collectively represent more than 95% of the New Zealand hemp industry’s current license holders, and have worked together as a coalition in recent years to facilitate positive regulatory change.
The coalition would like to acknowledge and thank the Ministry for Regulation and the Ministry of Health for their collaborative approach and the significant work undertaken to modernise New Zealand’s hemp regulatory framework. The coalition also acknowledges the leadership shown by Hon David Seymour in progressing these regulatory changes.
The reforms revoke the outdated Industrial Hemp Regulations 2006 and move low-THC hemp regulation directly under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, creating a more streamlined and practical framework for industry participants.
For the first time in decades, hemp cultivation in New Zealand will move away from a restrictive licensing framework to a far more practical notification-based system, significantly reducing barriers for growers and businesses wanting to participate in the sector. Under the new regulations, individuals and businesses will no longer require a licence to grow hemp. Instead, growers will simply need to notify Police and MPI before cultivation begins.
NZHIA Chair Richard Barge said the reforms provide greater certainty for growers and processors while helping create a stronger foundation for future industry development.
“These reforms represent one of the most significant advances for New Zealand’s hemp industry in many years. Importantly, the changes help reposition hemp as a legitimate agricultural crop with strong potential across seed, fibre, food, manufacturing, construction, and sustainable bio-product development.
These changes help create a stronger platform for future investment, regional development, and industry growth,” said Barge.
The updated regulations allow broader cultivation access and increase the allowable THC threshold for hemp to 1% dry weight of the plant, helping simplify compliance requirements for growers and processors.
The reforms allow hemp to be grown anywhere in New Zealand, opening the door for wider agricultural participation and future regional economic opportunities.
The coalition also welcomed the clearer integration between the hemp industry and New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis framework, while noting there are still important opportunities for future policy development around broader plant utilisation.
NZMCC Executive Director Sally King said the reforms support the constructive pathway that Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis have been working towards for several years now.
“The collaboration between the hemp and medicinal cannabis sectors is an important and positive step and the first, we hope, of many. There remains significant opportunity around full plant utilisation, particularly enabling hemp leaf and flower material to be used for medicinal and wellness products for both people and animals in the future,” said King.
AHA Chair Andrew Davidson welcomed the practical benefits the reforms provide for growers while encouraging continued industry coordination as cultivation expands.
“These changes are a positive development for hemp growers, avoiding the previous lengthy licensing timelines in the lead-up to spring planting, and our focus now shifts to maximizing the available per-hectare returns on farm. As the industry evolves, we will also need continued industry engagement around issues such as pollen drift, crop management, and maintaining seed quality to support long-term industry success,” said Davidson.
The hemp coalition notes that while some industry matters remain subject to ongoing discussion — including animal feed opportunities, export development, and broader biomass utilisation — the reforms represent a constructive and encouraging foundation for the sector’s next stage of growth.
The coalition believes the changes signal growing recognition of hemp as a valuable agricultural, environmental, cultural and economic opportunity for New Zealand.
“Hemp has enormous potential to contribute to regional development, sustainable land use, research, innovation and tech in manufacturing, and the wider bioeconomy. These reforms help establish a stronger platform for future investment and responsible industry growth,” said Barge.
The coalition remains committed to working collaboratively with Government agencies, regulators, researchers, growers, investors, and industry partners to support the responsible development of New Zealand’s hemp industry and help realise the full potential of hemp seed, fibre, and biomass (leaf and Flower)opportunities.
–ENDS–
References:
Links to the relevant legislation are listed below, along with a link to the MFR Regulatory impact statement;
- Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations Revocation Order 2026, https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2026/87/en/latest/#LMS1591537
- Addition to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2026 https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2026/85/en/latest/#LMS1591487
- Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Regulations 2026, implement changes to the hemp regulatory scheme https://www.legislation.govt.nz/secondary-legislation/pco-drafted/2026/86/en/latest/#LMS1590447
- A copy of the regulatory impact statement can be found at https://www.regulation.govt.nz/our-work/regulatory-impact-statements/regulatory-impact-statement-review-the-misuse-of-drugs-industrial-hemp-regulations-2006/
Media Contact(s): as follows, with phone numbers included below.
Richard Barge
New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA)
richard@nzhia.com
021 706 690
Sally King
New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council
sally.king@nzmcc.nz
021 618 561
Andrew Davidson
Aotearoa Hemp Alliance
andrew.davidson@midlands.co.nz
027 539 5863
Background Notes:
New Zealand Hemp Industries Association
The New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA) has, over the past 29 years, recognised the remarkable potential of Hemp for Aotearoa and sought to overcome the stigma of cannabis that has held back its potential. As a non-profit organisation with members across all sectors, including farmers, entrepreneurs, industry, scientific partners and consumers, the NZHIA has been leading the industry by hosting industry events, developing tools for Hemp licence holders, educating and sharing knowledge, and looking overseas to see what really works. The NZHIA’s slogan is “Farmer. Food. Fibre. Health.” because historically, those are the four pillars of the global hemp industry.
Welcome to the NZ Hemp Industries Association! – New Zealand Hemp Industries Association
Aotearoa Hemp Alliance
The Aotearoa Hemp Alliance (AHA) was established in 2021 to enable and facilitate commercial pathways to market for low THC Hemp derived products in New Zealand and abroad, by engagement with parallel industry partners, regulatory bodies and government, that will support the successful development of a regional Hemp industry in New Zealand. The founding members of the alliance are three vertically integrated Hemp companies located in three diverse regions of New Zealand – Midlands (Canterbury), KANAPU Hemp Foods (Hawke’s Bay) and Hemp Connect (Horowhenua). The ambition of the alliance is to achieve changes to current New Zealand legislation for Hemp and Cannabidiol (CBD) that will open-up new and existing opportunities for growth, enabling better farm-gate returns and an economically sustainable industry for the regions.
New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council
The New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council (NZMCC) is the peak body for the New Zealand medicinal cannabis sector to coordinate and represent organisations involved in all aspects of the industry in New Zealand. More than 20 member companies are represented by the Council, including ancillary services such as testing labs, “cultivation only”(biomass) suppliers, vertical (seed to sale) producers of finished products and regulatory consultants. The Council is determined that the New Zealand industry and its products will be built on sound science and underpinned by industry processes and standards that ensure patients, prescribers and our export markets have confidence in our sector and its products.