More state homes have tested positive for traces of methamphetamine in Tauranga and Auckland than anywhere else in New Zealand.
Housing New Zealand tested 196 state homes suspected of being used to make methamphetamine in the past year and of these, 101 failed. Most of these homes were in Auckland, which had 43 homes test positive, and nine out of 17 tested positive in Tauranga.
Three properties were in Mount Maunganui, three in Gate Pa, two in Welcome Bay and one was in Brookfield.
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Housing New Zealand general manager of property services Marcus Bosch said all nine properties had been fixed. Measures taken to fix contaminated properties ranged from specialised cleaning through to re-fitting,
Mr Bosch said police, frontline staff, and members of the public told the organisation of properties suspected to be involved in P.
It then visited to carry out a pre-emptive test, typically costing between $600 to $1800.
"If this is positive, we arrange for a comprehensive test (including air and surface testing) which determines the level of contamination and results in recommendations for remediating the property. All testing is carried out by an accredited provider," he said.
Tenants found in a house where methamphetamine was being used or manufactured were evicted.
"Several tenancies in Tauranga were ended in 2014 after the property was found to be contaminated, he said.
Mr Bosch said Housing New Zealand would not hesitate to test for methamphetamine if staff had suspicions but it was reluctant to make it mandatory on its 68,000 properties "which wouldn't be prudent use of taxpayer money".
Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services plans to buy state houses, made available by the Government earlier this year, to help cater for people struggling to find affordable housing in Tauranga.
Executive director Tommy Wilson said he was not put off by houses that tested positive.
"My number one concern for any houses that we get is that they are in a healthy state - they are not mouldy, damp or cold. They are warm," he said.
Mr Wilson said another concern was for the history of the people who lived in the houses that tested positive "and what happened to them".
Former Merivale Community Centre chief executive Graham Cameron said he was surprised at the findings.
"If there's a problem drug, it would be marijuana and alcohol rather than methamphetamine."
Mr Cameron said it was hard enough for some families to find a house they were eligible for, let alone to learn some homes had traces of methamphetamine inside.
"When you start removing houses from the stock for whatever reason, you just increase the waiting list," he said. "Of course, they have to. But it makes it harder."