Is khat legal in New Zealand?

Illegal

Khat is listed as a Class C drug in New Zealand, making it a controlled substance.

New Zealand is one of 24 countries classified “Illegal” for khat — 83% of the 29 with data. (Also searched as qat.)

Source

Taken from
Wikipedia: Khat
Last checked
17 September 2026
How it was classified
Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.

Nearby countries

Australia
Varies by region Khat importation is prohibited nationally, but criminal regulation varies by state, with Queensland listing it as a dangerous drug.
Singapore
Illegal Khat is prohibited in Singapore by the Central Narcotics Bureau.
Taiwan
Illegal Khat is illegal and classified as a narcotic drug in Taiwan.
Hong Kong
Illegal Khat is a dangerous drug in Hong Kong, with severe penalties for trafficking.
Vietnam
Illegal Khat is a narcotic drug in Vietnam, with illegal cultivation, possession, and distribution criminally prosecuted.
South Africa
Illegal Khat use is illegal in South Africa, and the plant is a protected tree.

Other laws in New Zealand

Cannabis
Legal (Medical)
Drinking Age
18–20
Smoking Age
18
Psilocybin Mushrooms
Illegal
Salvia Divinorum
Legal / unregulated
E-Cigarettes
Regulated

Every law in New Zealand → · Where is khat legal? →

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.