Housing NZ’s $5.5m Auckland bill over meth

Taxpayers have footed a $5.5 million bill to test, decontaminate or demolish hundreds of Auckland state houses contaminated with methamphetamine over the past year.

Half of the Housing New Zealand Auckland homes tested for the drug in the 12 months to June were contaminated.

Out of 640 houses Housing NZ tested in the year, costing $2.4m, 323 homes tested positive. Over the same period, 278 Auckland properties were decontaminated at a cost of $2.7m.

A further 13 properties had to be demolished as a result of their contamination, costing $406,804.

Housing NZ chief operating officer Paul Commons said houses were subject to testing based on suspicion of drug use.

‘‘Housing New Zealand works closely with a range of agencies including police and Oranga Tamariki, and we rely on and are guided by information from these and other agencies when it comes to suspecting a property may be contaminated with methamphetamine,’’ Commons said.

Reasons to suspect a property included police reports, tenants admitting drug use in the property, or complaints from neighbours.

Yvonne Powley, chair of the Auckland Regional Methamphetamine Working Group, said meth ‘‘had not gone away’’.

‘‘What we’re noticing … from those working on the ground, is there definitely appears to be an increase [in use], which means houses will be continuing to be contaminated.’’

While the group has made progress in helping to introduce standards around contamination levels in homes, Powley said the focus had shifted.

‘‘We really now want to look at treatment. Until there are more resources put into treatment, it’s hard for people to get help,’’ she said. ’’There’s just not enough beds.’’

‘‘We're not immune to it here on the Shore, it's in all parts of Auckland.’’ Yvonne Powley

She applauded Housing NZ for making sure its homes were adequate for living, but noted contamination issues had taken stock out of use, contributing to the city’s housing shortage.

Powley, who is also the executive officer of Auckland North Community and Development, said the problem was widespread through the region and in homes of people of all backgrounds.

‘‘We’re not immune to it here on the Shore, it’s in all parts of Auckland.’’

PETER DRURY/STUFF Contamination from smoking and cooking methamphetamine has been found in 323 Auckland Housing NZ homes in the last year.