If you've been stopped for excess breath or blood alcohol in Palmerston North, Whanganui, Feilding, Levin or anywhere across the Manawatū-Whanganui region, the law that applies is national — the Land Transport Act 1998 — but the courtroom is local: most charges in this region are heard at the Palmerston North District Court on Main Street East. The hours after a charge are confusing, and a single drink-driving conviction can cost you your licence, a large fine and, above certain readings, your liberty. This page gives clear, general information about how drink-driving cases work in New Zealand and where to get help in Manawatū-Whanganui. It is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Manawatū-Whanganui.
First, know which kind of case you have. In New Zealand the dividing line is your reading. For an adult driver, a breath-alcohol result between 251 and 400 micrograms per litre (or blood between 51 and 80 milligrams) is an infringement — a $200 fine and 50 demerit points, with no criminal record and no court appearance. Above 400 micrograms of breath (or 80 milligrams of blood) it becomes a criminal charge heard in the District Court, carrying possible imprisonment, a fine up to $4,500 and disqualification of at least six months. Check your summons or infringement notice: it will tell you whether you must appear, and when. If you must appear, your first hearing in this region will almost certainly be listed at the Palmerston North District Court. A duty lawyer is available free at court on the day, and you may qualify for criminal legal aid.
The single fact that decides almost everything about a New Zealand drink-driving case is your breath or blood reading. For an adult, 251 to 400 micrograms of breath is an infringement — a $200 fee and 50 demerit points, no court, no criminal record. One microgram over 400 and it becomes a criminal charge in the District Court, with possible jail, a fine up to $4,500 and at least six months off the road. That line catches people out, because the consequences either side of it are worlds apart. If you are unsure which side of the line your reading falls on, or whether a prior conviction within the last five years tips you into the mandatory interlock regime, get clear information before you decide how to plead. In Manawatū-Whanganui, a free duty lawyer is available at the Palmerston North District Court on your hearing day.
If you can't afford a private lawyer, these New Zealand services can help with a drink-driving charge in Manawatū-Whanganui — from free advice to the legal-aid scheme. Legal Hotline is not a law firm and does not provide these services; we point you to them and offer general information, not legal advice.
I've been charged with drink-driving in Manawatū-Whanganui — which court will hear my case?
Criminal drink-driving charges in the Manawatū-Whanganui region are generally heard at the Palmerston North District Court, 486 Main Street East. Your summons will confirm the court and date. If your matter is serious or goes to a jury trial it may move to the High Court. A free duty lawyer is available at the court on your hearing day to help you.
What is the legal drink-driving limit in New Zealand?
For adult drivers (20 and over) the limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, or 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. For drivers under 20 the limit is zero — any measurable alcohol is an offence. These limits are set nationally by the Land Transport Act 1998 and are the same in Manawatū-Whanganui as everywhere else in New Zealand.
Is a low drink-driving reading a criminal offence?
Not always. For an adult, a breath reading between 251 and 400 micrograms (or blood between 51 and 80 milligrams) is an infringement — a $200 fee and 50 demerit points, with no court appearance and no criminal record. Only once your reading goes above 400 micrograms of breath (or 80 milligrams of blood) does it become a criminal charge heard in the District Court.
What are the penalties for a first criminal drink-driving conviction?
An adult convicted of a first criminal drink-driving offence faces up to three months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $4,500, plus mandatory disqualification from driving of six months or more. The court can also impose a zero-alcohol licence, and in some cases an alcohol interlock licence. Your reading and circumstances affect the outcome.
What is an alcohol interlock sentence and when does it apply?
An alcohol interlock is a device fitted to your car that stops it starting if it detects alcohol on your breath. The sentence is mandatory if you are caught at or above 800 micrograms of breath (160 milligrams of blood), or convicted of a second drink or drug-driving offence within five years. You are disqualified for at least 28 days, then drive on an interlock licence for a minimum of 12 months, then on a zero-alcohol licence for three years.
Do I have to go to court for a drink-driving infringement?
No. An adult infringement reading (251–400 micrograms of breath) is handled administratively — you pay the $200 fee and receive 50 demerit points, with no court appearance and no criminal record. But if you are charged with a criminal drink-driving offence, you must appear at the Palmerston North District Court on the date in your summons, and failing to appear is itself an offence.
What happens if I refuse a breath or blood test?
Refusing or failing to give a breath or blood specimen when lawfully required is a separate offence under the Land Transport Act 1998, and it is treated as seriously as a high reading — exposing you to imprisonment, a substantial fine and mandatory disqualification. Refusing rarely improves your position. If you are unsure of your rights, seek advice from the duty lawyer or a community law centre.
Can I get free legal help with a drink-driving charge in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Yes. A free duty lawyer is available at the Palmerston North District Court on your hearing day. The Manawatū Community Law Centre on Broadway Avenue offers free legal advice across the Manawatū, Horowhenua and Tararua areas. You may also qualify for criminal legal aid through the Ministry of Justice, especially if you face six months or more in prison.
Will I lose my licence, and can I still drive for work?
A criminal drink-driving conviction carries mandatory disqualification of six months or more. In some cases you may be able to apply to the court for a limited licence that lets you drive for essential purposes such as work, or move onto an alcohol interlock licence. Whether you qualify depends on your circumstances — a lawyer or community law centre can advise you.
Does a drink-driving conviction from years ago still affect me?
It can. A second drink or drug-driving conviction within five years triggers the mandatory alcohol interlock regime no matter how low your latest reading is, and prior convictions generally lead to heavier penalties. The five-year window matters, so it is worth checking your record before deciding how to respond to a new charge.
Is this page legal advice?
No. This page provides general legal information about how drink-driving cases work in New Zealand and where to find help in Manawatū-Whanganui. It is not legal advice, does not create a lawyer-client relationship, and is no substitute for talking to a lawyer, the duty lawyer at court, or a community law centre about your specific situation.
We connect drivers across Manawatū-Whanganui — from Palmerston North to Whanganui, Feilding and Levin — with local lawyers who handle drink-driving and traffic matters in the District Court. If you are a New Zealand-qualified lawyer practising in this region and want to receive enquiries from people seeking representation, we'd like to hear from you. This is a referral path for vetted lawyers, separate from the free information service above. Reach out to learn how to join.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
A drink-driving charge in Manawatū-Whanganui doesn't have to be faced in confusion. Whether your reading puts you in the infringement range or means a criminal hearing at the Palmerston North District Court, knowing the difference — and where to turn for free help — changes how the next few weeks go. A free duty lawyer is available at the court on your hearing day, and the Manawatū Community Law Centre offers free advice across the region. This is general legal information, not legal advice, and creates no lawyer-client relationship. Our free phone service for this region is live now — call 0800 461 100 any hour.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.