Most state homes free from meth

State housing in west Auckland has one of the lowest number of vacant homes contaminated with methamphetamine in Auckland.

Figures released by Housing New Zealand showed the HendersonMassey area had the highest number of west Auckland properties decontaminated for the highly addictive drug, also known as ‘P’.

Henderson-Massey had 72 vacant properties in total with nine identified with methamphetamine contamination.

The Waitakere Ranges area had 37 vacant houses with one home contaminated by methamphetamine and the Whau Local Board area had six properties where meth was a problem out of 46 in total that were vacant.

There is a total of 4956 state homes in the three areas.

Nationally there are 2447 vacant state houses with 524 contaminated by meth.

In the region Mangere-Otahuhu had the most contaminated properties, with 47 out of 98. Rodney, Upper Harbour and Waiheke had none.

HNZ tests when it has reason to suspect a contamination of the drug or if the property is going to be sold.

A Housing New Zealand spokesperson says if a property is positive tenants are not allowed to remain.

The use of P, or any drug on the Government properties, is considered a crime, they say.

‘‘Methamphetamine is a growing issue not just for Housing New Zealand, but for our country as a whole, and we’re only now coming to grips with the true impact of the drug’s reach through our society.’’

There has been an increase in detection as a result of the state housing organisation’s testing processes.

If a house tests positive for P it can take months to be remedied and costs Housing NZ about $14,000 overall. If the tennant is responsible they are expected to pay.