A crisis meeting has been held in Hawke’s Bay to deal with an apparent sharp rise in the use of “nangs” – a potentially fatal trend of huffing nitrous oxide out of branded cream-charger canisters.
Progressing from the small soda-bottle-sized chargers once more common, the nangs are now the size of large thermos flasks or breathing apparatus tanks, and are supposed to be used only in commercial catering or bakeries, but provide up to 260 hits.
Those who called the meeting say marketing under such brands as “Lost in L.A. Sokka” and “Miami Magic” is, in their view, “clearly targeted towards kids”, when sales to under-18s or suspected recreational users are prohibited.
Among those at the meeting were Health New Zealand Hawke’s Bay medical officer of health Dr Nick Jones and Napier Mayor Richard McGrath.
Comment from Health NZ was not available by late week, but McGrath said Jones and youth councillors spoke on the recreational use of nitrous oxide.
“The community is concerned about this matter and I share their concerns,” he said. “I have spoken with MP Katie Nimon about this growing issue and I fully support her decision to raise it with the appropriate ministers.”
Nimon confirmed: “I will be raising this with the appropriate ministers as a matter of priority, particularly given the local impacts being reported.”
Use of a nang was a factor in a Waikato crash that killed five people in 2024, the unlicensed teenage female driving one of the vehicles seen “huffing” moments beforehand.
During 2024, Minister of Health at the time, Shane Reti, said he was seeking options for a crackdown on supply, after learning of canisters being sold by vape shops and others outside the catering industry.
One marketing website warning says the canisters “may only be purchased by genuine users in the catering industry for the purpose of whipping cream”, and then details the risks.
“The use of nitrous oxide is seriously dangerous, the risks include narcosis, asphyxiation, and potentially death,” it says.
“Not under any circumstances should you inhale the gas released from these cream chargers.”
Gas bottle collection and disposal agent Chris O’Connor, of Gasworx, says he’s now gathering 60 to 70 used canisters a month, from refuse transfer stations and those found on the streets, parks or in vehicles in Napier and Hastings.
While covering this story, Hawke’s Bay Today‘s reporter spotted three examples around town.
On Monday, we delivered two items to Gasworx – a “LuxWhip Infusions N2O Cannister” found in a gutter near a home in a suburban street and a larger helium gas bottle found in the carpark en route.
The police had just been to drop off four more canisters at Gasworx when Hawke’s Bay Today arrived.
A “Miami Magic”–branded canister was then found in a suburban roadside gutter by a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter’s friend.
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga manu tāiko Stewart Whyte, who helped call and facilitate the meeting, said that a fortnight earlier he’d never heard of “nangs”.
But the next time taiwhenua staff went for their daily exercise, they found another canister in a nearby gutter.
Then O’Connor’s revelations to a taiwhenua staff member calling in to get a dive tank filled led to the hui, at which he spoke.
O’Connor said the prevalence had increased markedly over the last three years.
“It’s epidemic now,” he said. “They’re everywhere.”
Whyte said the problem seemed to have been “flying under the radar” in Hawke’s Bay, but there was a “big” response to the hui – about 40 people, from the police, Health NZ, councils and youth forums.
Many were “blown away” by what they heard, including stories of comatose teenagers, and “out-of-it young” drivers at the wheels of stopped vehicles, Whyte said.
It was decided that an immediate awareness campaign was necessary, along with other steps.
“The rangatahi from our youth councils were very helpful,” he says. “A lot of parents will not be aware what their children are up to.”
Those at the meeting were worried the canisters were being sold illegally, and Whyte said he believed the number of canisters appearing in the community outstripped any legitimate demand.
“It doesn’t make sense.”
He says the immediate focus should be on awareness and “minimising” the availability, but if need be, enforcement should be stepped up and a law change considered.
A “chat room” is already operating among concerned parties, approaches have been made to other groups, and another meeting is being planned for this month.
In a report last November reflecting on the Waikato tragedy, Coroner Matthew Bates said it was an important reminder about the dangers of driving while impaired.
“The tragic consequences of impaired driving have the potential to touch any of us.
“My sincere hope is that continued publicity, education, and enforcement intended to free our roads of impaired drivers gains greater traction.”
The Drug Foundation website says medical nitrous oxide is sold in large cylinders to registered dentists and doctors, and it can only be used under their supervision.
But the nitrous oxide appearing in Hawke’s Bay, which had previously been sold in 8g canisters costing about $15 for a box of 10 in catering supplies stores, is now appearing in canisters costing over $80 online, and, according to street sources, at outlets other than catering supplies businesses.
Doug Laing has been a journalist for more than 50 years, including more than 40 in Hawke’s Bay with the Central Hawke’s Bay Press, the Napier Daily Telegraph, and Hawke’s Bay Today, covering most aspects of news. including many tragedies.