Two of the most commonly used synthetic drugs could be reclassified as Class A, bringing them in line with heroin and cocaine.

Health Minister David Clark says the aim was to give the police greater powers to stop makers and sellers of the drug.

He says he will be asking his Cabinet colleagues to support reclassification of two compounds known as AMB-Fubinaca and 5F-ABD.

A bad batch of synthetic drugs in Christchurch is suspected to be behind one death. The batch has also put 19 people in hospital over the last two weeks.

"Any death as a result of drug use is a tragedy, and my sympathies go to friends and family."

The government was taking the synthetic drug problem seriously and was talking to service providers and drug users to identify areas of need, he says.

"I am seeking the support of my cabinet colleagues to reclassify some of these substances as Class A drugs, alongside heroin and cocaine.

"That will give the police greater powers to go after the peddlers of these drugs and interrupt the supply of them into the community."

A decision on reclassification under the Misuse of Drugs Act would be made in coming weeks.

"It's important to acknowledge that reclassification is not a silver bullet. We need to treat drug abuse, including synthetic cannabis, as a health issue."