Rope Around the Rush: Could the Government’s popper constraints be a crime against sexuality?

Photography / Luka Maresca

A beat pulses from the speakers, whirling around a dancefloor sparkling with bell bottoms. Loose bodies and wild hair are lit up by the disco ball above. A little brown bottle is pulled from someone’s pocket, passed from hand to hand. One sniff, and your senses start to blur.  

The rush hits fast.  

Alkyl nitrites, better known as poppers, were popularised by the gay community in the 1970s. They became a staple within disco nights and underground raves, prized for the euphoric, head-spinning high. Their main appeal was their ability to relax your muscles making anal sex easier and more pleasurable. More recently, gay singer Troye Sivan’s 2023 hit ‘Rush’ — an ode to the party drug — marked poppers cultural resurgence. 

In Aotearoa, poppers were once easy to access, often sold under the counter at sex shops, disguised as leather cleaner or room odouriser.  

But that changed in 2020 law reform, when a law reform reclassified poppers as a prescription-only medicine. 

Here’s the catch: Medsafe has authourised almost no suppliers, with the exception being some Auckland pharmacies with single-use poppers. So, while people can be prescribed poppers, there’s almost nowhere in the country to fill the script. Most resort to importing from overseas and praying customs don’t seize the bottle.  

Matt*, a former poppers user, believes this legal grey area is a crime against sexuality — and a reflection of how unfulfilled our own politicians might be.  

He says, “The fact that poppers are essentially illegal in New Zealand is a perfect example of how this country is run by an uptight bunch of joyless wowsers.” 

“Take one look at Christopher Luxon, gormless fizzgog, and know that he has never had a truly fulfilling sexual experience, not even once in his life.” 

Poppers have been legal in the UK and America since the 1960s, starting out being sold over the counter in pharmacies to treat angina, period pain and, very briefly, cyanide poisoning. Now you can order them in person or online easily, with Poppers London selling one bottle for around $19 NZD.  

And in 2018, the Australian government wanted to tighten rules on selling poppers, particularly as they were often sold as ‘leather cleaner’ in sex shops. But after receiving backlash from the queer community, they listened. In a joint submission, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations and National LGBTIQ Health Alliance argued the proposed rules "ignores the benefits associated with the therapeutic use of alkyl nitrites as a muscle relaxant to make sex less painful for gay and bisexual men and sex workers". 

By 2020, Aussie made alkyl nitrite available over the counter at pharmacies, so long as it is used in preparation for therapeutic use and has child proof containers. The similar amyl nitrite is allowed with a prescription — something our government has done too, but Australia actually has suppliers.  

With other countries huffing in peace, Matt believes Aotearoa should — with caution -- join the party. 

Matt sees poppers not just as sex enhancers but as tools for transformation, especially for queer men. He says they help people drop their everyday personas and slip into something far hornier.  

“It frees people, makes them feel sexier and more fuckable, makes them feel less self-conscious and much more likely to want to experiment with kinks.” 

Liz Gibbs, CEO of The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, agrees that while the medical use of poppers has declined, they remain an integral part of queer sexual pleasure.  

Gibbs tells Massive, “While there has been more platforming of poppers in mainstream culture recently, it’s key to remember that for many people in our communities they are an integral part of having fulfilling, pleasurable and safe sex lives.” 

For people who struggle to have anal sex, Gibbs explains that poppers help ease the pain and prevents injuries such as anal fissures.  

However, she warns the numbing effects can make it difficult to recognise when sex becomes too rough, so it’s important to do poppers in a safe, trusting environment. She encouraged poppers users to communicate with partners during sex to keep things safe and enjoyable.  

Making poppers accessible in New Zealand isn’t just about getting a high. It’s about safety, freedom, and claiming pleasure on your own terms.  

Like any substance, poppers should be used with consent, context, and a bit of care. With this, poppers can open the door to bolder pleasure and more fulfilling sex. For many in the queer community, they’re more than just a party drug — they're a tool for self-expression. 

Or, as Troye Sivan puts it: “You got my heartbeat racing/ 
My body blazing/ I feel the rush/ Addicted to your touch/ Oh, I feel the rush.” 

*Name changed for anonymity.