Critics say the persecute and punish model of New Zealand's drug laws, which have not changed in 40 years, have failed.

Policy makers in Wellington are set to debate the state of the country's drug laws.

Ross Bell of the New Zealand Drug Foundation said New Zealand is "losing the war on drugs".

"We're getting increasingly frustrated. We all know what we're doing isn't working."

"We have some of the highest rates of drug use in the world."

So the foundation are going to parliament next week to show politicians examples of overseas programmes.