The head of the University of Otago's Office of Maori Development will speak about the "abject failure'' of the war on drugs at a United Nations meeting on the world drug problem in New York today.
The General Assembly special session will draft a resolution document detailing plans to address drug use.
Tuari Potiki, who is also the chairman of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, will advocate for indigenous people to have stronger representation in the new global drug strategy.
Mr Potiki said indigenous people needed to have a strong voice in any approach on the issue because drug use was disproportionately high in indigenous communities.
"Throughout the world it is indigenous populations who are suffering the most drug harm so what we are going to be pushing is that indigenous people and their voices and views are included earlier in deliberations before they [United Nations] come up with these grand statements.''
He would also speak about the need for drug addiction to be treated as a health issue, rather than a criminal one.
The war on drugs was a "slogan'' which had waged a war on people.
"You can't wage a war on drugs but you can on people and that is what has happened.
"And drugs encompass everything, caffeine to alcohol, to heart pressure medication, to cancer treatment, so the whole concept of a war on drugs is stupid.
"It was an abject failure on every level.''
His address would be heard by representatives from all UN member countries, but he was not expecting to change the world, he said.
A former drug addict himself, he had not used drugs for 27 years, but the issue remained "personal''.
"I'm not expecting to change the world, but it is important that it's done and I say the things that need to be said.''
He was pleased New Zealand had begun a discussion about drug law reform.
"Maybe not criminalising people who are using low-level drugs that are not causing harm to anybody, that is probably even more exciting than what is happening here.''
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne will also speak at the meeting.
