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Housing NZ to examine meth policy failures

Housing New Zealand will report on its methamphetamine contamination practices after a flawed approach led to state housing evictions and $NZ100 million ($92.7 million) of spending on mostly unnecessary testing and remediation.

The six-week review will include an examination of the wider environment, including guidance available from the Ministry of Health, the Residential Tenancies Act, test practices and employer obligations to staff and contractors.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford says the review will also consider what redress or further steps may be appropriate for any unfairness to the agency’s tenants.

The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Peter Gluckman recently found residues from historic meth smoking in homes are no risk to health, rejecting fears that have driven an explosion in testing and remediation and a jump in related insurance claims.

Mr Twyford has flagged a public consultation on meth regulations later this year.