Fiza Nadeem, who owns the Kennedy Road Dairy in Napier, has had to order more stock from an Auckland supplier as her original supply from Fiji has been selling so quickly.

Dairies across the country are selling the mood altering substance kava - and there's no restrictions on who buys it.

Fiza Nadeem, owner of the Kennedy Road Dairy in Napier South, started selling kava powder about two months ago. She sells about three packs a day. The first stock was from Fiji, but because it sold so quickly, she bought more from an Auckland supplier.

"There's no harm in it, it's a herbal thing. I was talking to one of the guys, I can't remember his name, he came in and went, 'I just put it in a glass of water and drank it and it gave me more energy'. I was really shocked to think it gave him energy. He said it was really good for his health too, and then he bought some more, like $20 worth."

DAN BROWNE/STUFF Packets of kava for sale at the Kennedy Rd Dairy in Napier.

Kava comes from the root of the Piper methysticum plant found in the Pacific, and it is widely consumed by people of all ages for its sedating effects.

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Bruce Leckie, 71, lives on the same block as the shop. He bought a couple of $5 bags recently, but still has to try it.

DAN BROWNE/STUFF As kava isn't on display at the store, many customers ask about it at the counter, redirected from this sign outside.

"I thought, 'Yep I'll give it a go'. Seems to me that it may be a pleasant, legal, mind-mood altering substance, and like the old saying: 'I'll try anything once except incest or country dancing'."

The Ministry of Health has no restrictions or concerns around the drug, saying kava compliance falls under the guidance of the Ministry of Primary Industries.

MPI has rules on importing kava - needing to meet biosecurity rules in the import health standards, and comply with the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand if you want to sell it.

Radio Tarana Waikato-based researcher Dr Apo Aporosa talks to Radio Tarana's Sanjesh Narain about adulterated kava.

The whole dried root can be brought in but needs to be inspected for insects, whereas there's no restrictions for powder. The fresh root may be imported from Samoa, Tonga or Fiji, but this requires phytosanitary certification from the exporting country and inspection on arrival.

When selling, it's only permitted as a beverage obtained by the "aqueous suspension of kava root using cold water only", or as a dried or raw kava root. Labelling provisions require "use in moderation" and "may cause drowsiness" warning statements.

University of Waikato Pacific development manager Dr Apo Aporosa​ says many people believe kava contains mana or spiritual power.

SUPPLIED Kava, a muddy tasting drink squeezed out of pounded root powder, is a legal and traditional Pacific beverage with relaxant effects.

"It's a very mild substance. I've read in some places it's been called the anti-redbull, instead of winding you up, it just chills you out."

Kava is non-euphoric and non-hallucinogenic, and Aporosa reckons it should be made more widely available.

"If you can have a substance where people can sit around, where people can have quality conversation without euphoria, where we're connecting and relating on a quality social level, kava provides that. That's a huge missing link in society generally. A lot of it tends to happens across the bar, where maybe we have to yell because there's loud music, then people get euphoric and emotions come into play, next minute someone gets angry.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF "It's been called the anti-redbull, instead of winding you up, it just chills you out," Dr Apo Aporosa of Waikato University says.

"You don't have that with kava, that's not the kava scene."