'Sinister' partner lured woman into meth ring

Mother of five Casey Rewha was sentenced to 12 months' home detention for her involvement in a meth ring.

A Whangarei mother's involvement in the large-scale manufacture of methamphetamine was influenced by her manipulative and domineering former partner, a High Court judge says.

Mother of five Casey Rewha has been sentenced to 12 months' home detention by the High Court at Whangarei after a jury earlier found her guilty on one charge of participating in an organised criminal group.

At least 9kg of meth, with a street value of $3.2 million to $4.5 million, was cooked under the alleged supervision of her former partner Brownie Harding in Taipuha Rd in Waiotira between September and December 2014.

Rewha, 35, sourced equipment such as beer kegs and water for Brownie Harding and acted as a "go-between" for him and her son Evanda Harding, who is already serving a sentence of nine years, six months.

Justice Simon Moore said Rewha's offending could be contrasted with that of the others because she was neither charged with manufacturing nor supplying meth.

She became involved with Brownie Harding, with whom she had five children, at the age of 13 and moved in with his family to escape her chaotic home life after her parents died.

Justice Moore said that after Brownie Harding began abusing alcohol, their relationship deteriorated and although she made various attempts to move away from him, his manipulative nature meant she failed.

"Although I do not accept that your will was overborne by his conduct to the extent you were not a willing party, I do accept that the nature of your relationship with him and the other family dynamics were relevant and influential factors."

He said Brownie Harding was a controlling, sinister and malevolent influence on her life.

Justice Moore said Rewha had two young children who depended on her, she worked as a merchandiser, had no association with gangs, and did not use drugs or alcohol.

"Do not waste the period of your confinement," he urged her.

"Use this next year to reflect on how you can improve yourself so you can be an effective and contributing member of this community as you so obviously have the potential to do."

Crown prosecutor Richard Annandale said Rewha knew what was going on in the Waiotira Rd house and contributed by helping source items used in manufacturing the drug.

David Niven, who appeared on instructions from Rewha's lawyer Maria Pecotic, said although Rewha knew Brownie Harding was "no good", she did not know what he was doing.

Rewha made attempts to move away and twice left for Australia, he said.

Brownie Harding's case is still before the court.