Sunlive – Housing NZ sharpens focus on meth

5 September 2016 – Source: sunlive.co.nz

The country’s biggest landlord, Housing New Zealand, has sent the strongest possible message to state housing tenants warning of its zero tolerance to illegal activity on its properties.

And that especially includes the use and abuse of methamphetamine.

“While the issue of methamphetamine is high-profile right now, we have never tolerated illegal activity in homes,” says Housing NZ’s manager of chemical programmes, Charlie Mitchell.

“Our tenants are well aware of this. It’s not a new policy. To ensure we are fair to all tenants, we cannot make exceptions to this policy around meth use and cooking.”

Housing New Zealand’s zero tolerance approach to illegal activity on its properties includes drug use of any kind. And it’s sending a warning to tenants who might be participating in, or allowing, illegal activity in state homes.

As part of this increased focus, a Methamphetamine Programme has been established to improve the management of meth across the organisation. The programme involves NZ Police, community groups, health, councils and contractors.

“We have also been selected to sit on an important new committee created to improve standards around meth management,” says Charlie Mitchell.

“New standards will provide clearer guidelines to those involved in the methamphetamine decontamination process.”

The new standard (NZS 8510) will cover testing and remediation of properties contaminated by the ‘cooking’ or use of meth.

The current guidelines were written to address methamphetamine ‘cooking’ and not use, meaning they’re not entirely suitable for contamination that occurs through use of methamphetamine.

Housing New Zealand says the issue of methamphetamine and its damaging impact on property and is one that every landlord is grappling with.