A Lower Hutt teacher has appeared in the Wellington District Court charged with importing a Class C controlled drug commonly used around the world for euthanasia.
Susan Dale Austen, 65, faces two charges of importing pentobarbitone - known as Nembutal - between March 2012 and September 2016.
Ms Austen didn't enter a plea this morning and will next reappear in February.
Newshub contacted Ms Austen today but she declined to comment on the charges.
Police wouldn't comment on whether Ms Austen's charges relate to the police operation in Lower Hutt earlier this month, which saw them stop members of a pro-euthanasia meeting under the guise of a breath-testing checkpoint, saying the matter is now before the courts.
Police pulled over seven cars after the meeting run by Exit International - a pro-euthanasia advocacy group headed by Dr Philip Nitschke, known as Dr Death - and over the following days interviewed nine of them at their homes.
Acting Superintendent Paul Basham said on Thursday he wasn't sure whether police officers' actions were legal in obtaining attendee's information, but said they acted in good faith and did what they had to do to preserve life.
Police have self-referred their actions to the Independent Police Conduct Authority to see whether their actions were legal or not.
Police were informed by the Coroner in late August that a June death under investigation contained traces of a controlled drug, and that there were no suspicious circumstances around the death.
Police began an investigation into "several other deaths" which police believe may involve aiding and abetting suicide, which is a crime in New Zealand punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Speaking to Newshub from The Netherlands on Friday Dr Nitschke says he's watching the case unfold "with interest".
"Susan has been a coordinator for Exit in New Zealand for many years and we are anxious for a successful outcome for her," he says.
Dr Nitschke says Nembutal is a common drug used in euthanasia, particularly in the Netherlands. It's also used as an ingredient in the lethal injection for the death penalty in the United States.
Newshub.
