Isolated by geography, New Zealand’s drug scene evolved differently from the rest of the world. With traditional cartels ignoring the island, Kiwis turned to methamphetamine and a flood of synthetic "research chemicals." Amidst rising gang violence and addiction, an unlikely hero emerged: Matt Bowden, a steampunk glam-rock star known as Starboy.
Bowden’s mission was radical: replace dangerous street drugs with government-regulated, "safe" legal highs. His company, Stargate, spearheaded a "party pill" revolution that almost ended the country’s drug war by moving the market from back alleys to convenience stores. Though his empire eventually collapsed under new bans, the "Starboy" era remains a world-first experiment in harm reduction and drug policy reform.
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