A killer strain of synthetic cannabis does not appear to have reached Tauranga but police are still on alert.
New Zealand Police and Chief Coroner Deborah Marshall jointly issued a public warning on Friday after seven deaths in a month were linked to synthetic cannabis in Auckland. An eighth person died overnight on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Bay of Plenty District Health Board had not seen the trend locally but police said they were still concerned.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said police were worried about both synthetic cannabis users and the general public.
"Users of these products can experience severe health issues, such as we've seen in Auckland recently, and users often resort to crime to fund their habit. This, in turn, creates harm for the local community," he said.
"Police all around the country respond to mental health-related call-outs where drugs are a factor every day. People under the influence of drugs are a danger to themselves and other people and police intervention may be required."
Mr Turner said there had been local arrests for possession and supply of synthetic cannabis and psychoactive substances.
"Police encourage people who are aware of the supply and use of these products to report information, either to your local police station or anonymously via (0800) Crimestoppers. This way, we can investigate and work to break the supply chain in an effort to reduce the harm these products cause to the community."