The Government is considering making it illegal to drive too close to cyclists.

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter told Newshub she wants to discuss the issue with officials and road safety groups in the next few weeks.

"We know a lot of people want to cycle more, but see our roads as too dangerous. I'm committed to changing this," the Green Party MP said.

"Anyone who's had the experience of a car or truck passing too close, at high speed, knows how frightening it can be. It's certainly off-putting for people new to cycling."

It comes after Western Australia became the fifth state across the Tasman to implement a passing law. Drivers have to stay at least one metre away from cyclists, and 1.5m if they're going faster than 60km/h. Failure to do so could result in a NZ$440 fine and four demerit points.

Kiwi cyclists have welcomed the move.

"A close pass is really uncomfortable and scary, and it's one of the main reasons that puts people off cycling," said Patrick Morgan of the Cyclist Action Network.

"People love cycling - they don't like mixing with heavy traffic. Being overtaken too close is bad manners, it's dangerous and it's scary."

Mr Morgan says there's already a "duty of care" written into the law, but the roads will be safer if it's made absolutely clear in the law how much room drivers need to give.

"The evidence from Queensland is it has been effective at increasing passing distances."

Western Australia is the last state to put a passing distance into law, Victoria the holdout.

In the past decade, between six and 10 cyclists have died on New Zealand's roads every year. Ministry of Transport statistics show the vast majority of accidents involving cyclists - around two-thirds - are not the cyclist's fault.

Minimum passing distances are mentioned in the Road Code, but not specified in law.