Rutherford TomTOM RUTHERFORD (National—Bay of Plenty): Thank you very much Mr Speaker. That was a woeful woeful contribution about Māori versus non-Māori. Let's actually be clear about what this bill is intending to do—it's about drug testing to ensure our New Zealand roads are safe for everybody that uses them. There is not a provision in here about targeting Māori verses non-Māori. It's simply about protecting our New Zealand roads for those that use them every single day—every single day.So I rise today in support of this legislation that marks a pivotal step in our ongoing effort to improve road safety in New Zealand. The Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill will enable roadside drug testing fulfilling our Government's commitment to make our roads safer for all New Zealanders. We cannot ignore the grim reality that faces us. Drug-impaired driving has been a silent killer on our roads for far too long. In 2022 alone alcohol and drugs contributed to 200 fatal crashes. These are not mere statistics. They represent 200 families devastated by preventable tragedies. Yet our law enforcement currently lacks the tools to effectively detect drug-impaired drivers at the roadside. Even more alarming only 26 percent of drivers believe they're likely to be caught while driving under the influence of drugs.The previous Government's attempt to address this issue while well-intentioned proved flawed and unworkable. Their legislation required oral fluid tests to meet evidentiary standards instead of serving as screening devices effectively stalling progress and leaving our roads vulnerable. This bill cuts through those barriers. We're introducing a system of random roadside oral fluid screening tests like how we enforce drink driving laws. This method is widely used overseas and has proven to be an effective way to screen for drugs at the roadside. Our legislation will bring New Zealand in line with Australian practices removing unnecessary obstacles that had hindered our ability to combat drug driving.Let me outline the key provisions of this bill. Drivers will be subject to random testing using approved oral fluid devices. If a driver tests positive they'll undergo a second roadside test. Two positive results will lead to an immediate 12-hour driving prohibition to address any immediate road safety risk. Additionally a sample will be sent to a laboratory for confirmatory testing. Infringement notices will only be issued if the lab test detects the presence of specified drugs at levels indicative of recent use—recent use. Importantly this bill empowers our police force. We expect them to conduct 50000 oral fluid tests per year once this regime is fully implemented. This sends a clear message: if you drive while impaired by drugs expect to be caught and expect to face serious consequences.I want to emphasise that this is not just about punitive measures it's about deterrence it's about changing behaviour. By implementing this testing regime we aim to make people think twice before getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs. We recognise that implementing this system will require careful planning and resources. Once this legislation is passed there will be a procurement process to acquire the necessary testing devices followed by comprehensive training for our police officers. We are committed to ensuring that this roll-out is efficient and effective.In conclusion this bill represents our Government's commitment to taking a harder line on the causes of death and serious injury on our roads. We owe it to all New Zealanders to ensure that when they set out on our roads they can do so with the confidence that we are doing everything in our power to keep them safe. I commend this bill to the House and look forward to working on it further as a member of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. Thank you Mr Speaker.