Docusign Envelope ID: B6E13DFD-82C5-49CB-AA4D-657B89F200F6
New Zealand Institute
for Public Health and
Forensic Science
18 December 2025
By ema
il: [FYI request #32934 email]
Dear Mike
Official Information Request for Information Regarding Meth Contamination Reports for HUD
I refer to your official information request received by the New Zealand Institute for Public Health
and Forensic Science Limited (‘PHF Science’) dated Thursday 20 November 2025 for the following
information:
“ESR were commissioned by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to produce
the following reports:
• December 2020: Methamphetamine Contamination in Residential Environments: Analysis of
Evidence Related to Human Health Effects
• July 2022: Methamphetamine Contamination in Residential Environments: Limits for
Contamination
I request the following information relating to the preparation, peer review, consultation, and
development of these reports.
________________________________________
1. – Basis for Determining “Insufficient Information on Adverse Health Effects”
Page 21 of the 2022 report states:
“There is insufficient information on adverse health effects following third-hand exposure to
methamphetamine residues.”
1. Please provide all information held by ESR that informed or supported this conclusion,
including (but not limited to):
o scientific literature, reviews, or datasets
o internal ESR analysis, briefing notes, draft assessments, working papers
o internal emails or discussions by ESR scientists
o external consultation or correspondence with HUD, contractors, experts, or peer reviewers
o any caveats, limitations, or methodological notes relating to this conclusion.
________________________________________
2. – Correspondence Between ESR and HUD
2. Please provide all correspondence between ESR and HUD relating to the 2020 and 2022
methamphetamine reports, including:
o emails, letters, meeting invitations
o meeting notes, minutes, agendas, or summaries
o draft reports supplied to HUD and feedback received
o instructions, scope changes, or policy direction provided by HUD at any stage.
________________________________________
3. – Correspondence With Dr Jeff Fowles / Tox-Logic
3. Please provide all correspondence between ESR and Dr Jeff Fowles and ESR and Tox-Logic
regarding both the 2020 or 2022 reports.
This includes correspondence with any company, consultancy, or entity associated with Dr Fowles
(e.g., Tox-Logic Consulting).
New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science Limited
Kenepuru Science Centre: 34 Kenepuru Drive, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022 | PO Box 50348, Porirua 5240, New Zealand
www.phfscience.nz T: +64 4 914 0700
Docusign Envelope ID: B6E13DFD-82C5-49CB-AA4D-657B89F200F6
Additionally, please provide:
o the details and amounts of any payments, contracts, subcontracts, or reimbursements made
to Dr Fowles or associated entities
o any conflict-of-interest declarations, procurement documents, or engagement justifications
held by ESR.
________________________________________
4. – Contributors and Advisory Input
4. Please provide the qualifications, CVs (or equivalent bios), and roles of all ESR staff,
contractors, external experts, and peer reviewers who contributed to, or provided advice during the
preparation of, the 2020 and 2022 reports.
This includes:
o internal scientific staff
o external subject-matter experts
o reviewers or contributors consulted by ESR
o any individuals whose input shaped the conclusions, thresholds, or health-risk
interpretations.
Where CVs cannot be released in full, please provide:
• highest qualification(s),
• relevant scientific discipline,
• position held at the time, and
• a summary of relevant expertise.
________________________________________”
Following on from receiving your request, part 2 of your request was subsequently transferred to
HUD on 4 December 2025. As per our previous letter, you will hear from HUD regarding part 2 of
your request.
The OIA requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days
after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit
and we are therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our decision, to
Thursday 22 January 2026. Noting that this takes into account the ombudsman’s given ‘summer
holiday’ dates of 25 December 2025 to 15 January 2026.
This extension is necessary because your request is for a large quantity of information and meeting
the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with our operations.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely,
Wendy Chung
PHF Science Legal Coordinator
