Approved Alcohol and Other Drug Report Writers Service
Background
The Ministry of Justice is setting up a new Approved Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Report Writer Service (the service). The service will provide a panel of qualified AOD report writers who are approved to provide AOD reports for cases in New Zealand courts in the criminal jurisdiction. The service will ensure that all participants receive the same quality AOD reports and that judges receive consistent information to inform sentencing decisions.
The panel has been established through a request for application (RFA) process. The initial RFA round ran from 5 March 2026 to 7 April 2026. The panel of approved AOD report writers will launch soon and made available on this website.
Applications received between 8 April 2026 and 30 June 2026 will be assessed in July. Applications received after 1 July will be assessed on a quarterly basis.
To submit a question, please email us at AODreports@justice.govt.nz
All procurement questions and answers are published here: Procurement questions and answers This ensures everyone receives the same information. Note, some questions from the first round have been archived where they are no longer relevant to the ongoing procurement process.
What AOD report writers do
AOD reports are ordered by judges or requested by lawyers to assist with sentencing decisions.
When writing the report, AOD report writers interview an offender to explore their history of alcohol and other drugs usage and their willingness to engage with rehabilitation services. They may also talk to other people who know the offender. For more information on the service, please contact us: AODreports@justice.govt.nz
More information is available here:
- Information for approved AOD report writers on the panel.
- Questions submitted to the Ministry and the Ministry's responses. This ensures all potential panel members receive the same information.
- Information on how to apply to join the AOD report writer panel.
- Information on how to make a complaint about the AOD Report Writers Service.