Demolition for one P house

An ESR scientist tests a house for meth. Photo/File

More than $140,000 has been spent on methamphetamine contaminated Housing New Zealand homes in the Western Bay including the demolition of one house due to extremely high levels of the drug.

Information released to the Bay of Plenty Times shows Housing New Zealand had tested 34 of its properties in the Western Bay for traces of methamphetamine since 2011.

Housing New Zealand regional manager Darren Toy said eight of those returned positive results and eight tenancies were terminated as a consequence.

He said the result was a small percentage of the 1384 properties owned by Housing New Zealand in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

The organisation spent $144,000 testing the properties and cleaning and demolishing the contaminated houses in the area.

The site of the demolished house was vacant.

Mr Toy said the organisation was notified of potentially contaminated properties through police investigations, information from the public and through detection by maintenance contractors and staff visiting the homes.

An initial test was done to determine if methamphetamine was present.

In the case of a positive result another test was undertaken to determine the level of contamination.

A reading of less than 0.5 micrograms per 100 square centimetres was deemed safe but a higher reading meant work was needed to make the building habitable, he said.

"Remedial measures can range from specialised cleaning through to re-fitting a property or even demolition.

"Testing can cost in the region of $1800 to $2000," he said.

"The cost of remediating houses affected by methamphetamine contamination can range from $20,000 to $40,000 for a specialised clean, while demolition of a small house can cost around $15,500."

Mr Toy said staff had been trained to spot possible drug manufacture and deal with tenants using or cooking P.

"We won't tolerate illegal activities in our properties and will evict tenants where there is evidence of drug use or manufacture."

Nicky Stratford, of Methsolutions, said she recommended anyone who had their property invested with Housing New Zealand got the house tested for the drug before ending their contract.