Prime Minister Bill English has denied overstating the drug test issue as a reason for young New Zealanders failing to get work. At the time, Mr English was defending the Government's immigration policies. RNZ reported only 466 people failed pre-employment drug tests in the past three years among the tens of thousands tested. Its figures showed that in 2015 there were 32,000 pre-employment drug tests. Labour's Grant Robertson said Mr English admitted his comments were based on anecdotes rather than any evidence or hard facts.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 28, 2017 20:03 UTC