A court dealing with drug offences is to be set up in Auckland in a five-year pilot programme at a cost of $2 million.
The Government says the court will deal with offenders who have severe alcohol and drug dependencies.
The court will use adjournments and deferrals of sentencing, with treatment services for addictions being made available.
Justice Minister Simon Power says the idea for the drug court follows a recommendation from the Law Commission, and it is expected to deal with about 100 offenders per year.
It's expected the court will be operating from the second half of next year.
