27 September 2022
Roger Brown
[FYI request #20396 email]
Tēnā koe Roger
Thank you for your email of 30 August 2022 to Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities requesting the
following information under the Official Information Act (the Act):
1
) How many Kāinga Ora properties are currently disused due to methamphetamine levels
above 15 µg/100 cm2?
2) How many Kāinga Ora properties are currently disused due to methamphetamine levels
above 1.5 µg/100 cm2, along with reported evidence of methamphetamine manufacture?
3) Are any Kāinga Ora properties disused due to the results of meth testing results at levels
less than 1.5 µg/100 cm2, or with indeterminate results?
4) How many Kāinga Ora properties have been demolished as a result of the results of meth
testing from 2019 onwards?
5) How many Kāinga Ora properties have been sold as a result of the results of meth testing
from 2019 onwards?
6) Has Kāinga Ora identified any cases in which property developers or neighbours may have
falsely reported methamphetamine manufacture in an effort to get social housing destroyed?
Like other landlords, Kāinga Ora is faced with the issue of methamphetamine contamination in some
of our homes. We take this seriously, while also considering that methamphetamine use is first and
foremost a health and addiction issue and can impact all members of a household, including children.
That has shaped the way Kāinga Ora currently manages cases of methamphetamine in our homes.
Following the report by the Chief Science Advisor in 2018, Housing New Zealand (Kāinga Ora
predecessor agency) reviewed its policies and practices in line with the report findings and adopted
the health and wellbeing approach to the management of methamphetamine contaminated homes that
has become the Kāinga Ora standard.
Kāinga Ora has over 68,000 homes in its portfolio. As at 8 September 2022, Kāinga Ora has 34
properties in various stages of decontamination and reinstatement levels range from 15.2 µg/100 cm2
to 252 µg/100 cm2.
There are an additional five properties in various stages of decontamination and reinstatement levels
following methamphetamine test results under 15 µg/100 cm2. There are no indications of
methamphetamine manufacture in any of these properties.
Kāinga Ora no longer demolishes properties due to methamphetamine contamination and has not
done since 2018. Current decontamination practices enable properties to be decontaminated to below
1.5 µg/100 cm2
. We have nine properties that have been decontaminated below 1.5 µg/100 cm2 and
are currently being reinstated, and an additional five properties that are with our maintenance partners
to prepare for reinstatement.
Methamphetamine contamination has not been a trigger for the sale on any Kāinga Ora properties
from 2019 onwards. We are not aware of any property developers or neighbours falsely reporting
methamphetamine manufacture in an effort to get housing destroyed.
Kāinga Ora proactively releases its responses to official information request where possible, and our
response to your request may be published at
www.kaingaora.govt.nz/publications/official-information-
requests/ with your personal information removed.
Nāku noa, nā
Rachel Kelly
Manager Government Relations
