Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai says the council would like to ban legal highs, but it can't do so and instead has to do what it can to limit harm from the products.
Ms Mai was speaking as the council's planning committee met yesterday to discuss a draft Psychoactive Substances Policy which would restrict the sale of the substances - also known as legal highs - to three blocks - Lower Cameron St, Clyde St and Albert St.
The planning committee backed the draft plan, which will now go to full council for approval then out for public consultation. The plan has already received opposition from a number of businesses in the zone.
Yesterday the councillors voted unanimously to send the draft policy to the full council, then on to public consultation, saying basically it was a case of do nothing or try to limit the harm caused by the products.
Parliament introduced the Psychoactive Substances Act last year, which gives local authorities the right to develop policy that can determine where such products can be sold.