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www.standards.govt.nz

• National Standards are not mandatory unless they are 

referenced in legislation.

• Currently provides ‘best practice’ guidance only.  

• Judiciary is likely to consider the Standard in its assessment of 

whether a party to litigation involving meth testing and/or 

decontamination has acted reasonably.



NZS 8510

• Meth Industry Lead Standard

• Workshops in 2015 to gauge support

• Testing industry

• Decontamination industry

• Support from 

• Local Government NZ and 

• Auckland Regional Meth Working Group

• Facilitated by Standards NZ

• Paid for by

• Government via Proceeds of Crime funding

• Individual committee members



Why Necessary?

• Strong emotional response to the issue

• Public has positively engaged with the risk

• Moral panic?

• Belief that acceptable levels were too 

low


• Economic cost to clean not supported by 

health risk?

• Lack of industry regulation

• Anybody can test for meth

• Anybody can clean up meth contamination


Who is on the Committee

Analytica Laboratories

Andy Andersons Industrial Services

Auckland Council

Cleaning Systems Ltd

Contaminated Site Solutions Ltd

Environmental Science and Research

Forensic and Industrial Science Ltd

Hill Laboratories

Housing New Zealand Corporation

Hutt City Council

Independent Property Managers’ 

Association

Insurance Council of New Zealand

Insurance Council of New Zealand

International Accreditation NZ (IANZ)

Local Government New Zealand

MethSolutions Ltd

Ministry for the Environment

Ministry of Health

New Zealand Property Investors’ 

Federation

NZ Decontamination Services T/A Fresh 

Living


NZ Remediation Services

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand







Key Outcomes - Levels

• Goal posts have shifted

• Acceptable levels will increase

• 1.5 µg/100cm2 in high use areas

• 3.8 µg/100cm2 in low use areas

• Definition of ‘High Use Area’



An area in a property that can be easily accessed and 

is regularly used by adults and children

• Low Use Area examples

• Roof space, crawl space under house

0.5


1.5

Key Outcomes - Testing

• Standards for Testing

• Screening Tests – is meth present?

• Lab tested field composites

• Lab composites

• Validated non-reference testing

• Validated instant answer kits

• Detailed Site Inspection – where is it and how 

much?

• Post Decontamination Testing – was cleaning 



effective?

Standard Screening – Yes/No? 

Area x Area – Where and how much?

Lab Composite – Yes/No Average + Option for Area x Area 

Key Outcomes – ‘Testers’

• Standards for Testers

• Screening Tests 

• Requirement for people using kits to undergo 

training

• Includes landlords using for their own purposes

• Includes non-referenced method lab tests

• Includes validated instant answer kits

• Detailed Site Inspection/Post Decon Testing

• Accreditation at the organisational level



Key Outcomes – Decontamination

• Standards for Decontamination

• Driven by revised levels

• Some guidance on how works to be completed

• Recommendations around training

• Further guidance required



Not a Magic Bullet

• Step in the right direction?

• Definitely

• Greater clarity of what to expect?

• Potential for different results remains

• Improved quality of service offering?

• Standard is voluntary

• Doesn’t stop people using meth!



Potential for Differences Remains – Surface Type 

A Double Edged Sword

• Harder to exit potentially problematic tenants?

• Harder to hold people accountable?

• Harder to get access to service? (Short term)

• Harder to sell property?

• Higher costs of service

• What impact on health?


Methamphetamine

Understanding your obligations - An Auckland Council perspective



Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective

• Council Responsibility

• Legislation that council’s use

• Key points of the NZ Standard

• Impact of the new NZ Standard on Council Processes

• Council Process once notified

• Limitations under current legislation



Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Council Responsibility

Every local authority must improve, promote, and protect public health within its district and if satisfied that a 

nuisance, or condition likely to be injurious to health or offensive, exists take steps to abate the nuisance.

Councils have jurisdiction for incidents that occur on properties within their territory, apart from workplaces 

which fall under the jurisdiction of Worksafe NZ.

Auckland Council will act when we receive a valid report of contamination regardless of source or when 

another government agency notifies us (e.g. NZ Police, Auckland Regional Public Health Services & MBIE).

We can’t take action on hearsay.

There is no legal requirement for anyone (other than another government agency) to advise council that a 

property is contaminated, however there is probably a legal requirement to notify owners, occupants or 

visitors to the property under various pieces of legislation.


Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Legislation that council’s use:



Health Act 1956 



Building Act 2004



Resource Management (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in 



Soil to Protect Human Health) Regulations 2011

Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Key points of the NZ Standard:

-

It is a much more structured guide based on the latest toxicological information.

-

Standardised reporting requirements

-

Covers all sources of methamphetamine contamination (Manufacture & Use)

-

Should reduce costs to owners as the compliance level has increased

-

1.5ug/100cm2 for living areas (high use areas)

-

3.8ug/100cm2 for non-living areas (low use areas)

-

Testing Companies and Remediation Companies will need to be certified or accredited to do the work (eventually)

-

Where other chemicals associated with methamphetamine manufacturing have also contaminated the property they will 

need to be reduced to a safe level as well (refer to Local Authority for guidance).    

NB. In most cases the remediation of methamphetamine will also reduce other chemicals to a safe level.  


Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Impact of the new NZ Standard on Council Processes:

-

Very little impact on councils is expected although the new reporting requirements will make 



it much easier for councils to know when to accept or not accept reports as there are now 

clear requirements that must be followed. This is especially important for those councils who 

may only infrequently be notified of a methamphetamine contaminated property.

-

Councils will need to be aware that the standard only covers methamphetamine 



contamination and not the other chemicals often associated with it’s manufacture.

-

Knowledge of the testing and remediation contractors and their suitability to carry out the 



works will be required

Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Council Process once notified:

-

Once notification is received from a reliable source we write to the owner advising them to investigate the allegation 



and remediate the property (if necessary) and provide report to council within 20 working days. A warning is placed 

on the Property File stating that the property is likely to be contaminated with methamphetamine.

-

If owner fails to respond to this request a Cleansing Order is served requiring the owner to investigate and 



remediate the property and provide a report to council within 20 working days.

-

If owner fails to respond to this request a Repair Notice is issued requiring the owner to investigate and remediate 



the property and provide a report to council. They have21 days to comply

-

If owner fails to respond a Closing Order is served which prevents the property being occupied. 

-

Once a report is received showing contamination levels are below the NZ Standard we will update the Property File 

to reflect that the property has been remediated and it poses no further health risk. 


Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Limitations under current legislation:

-

Difficult to require the owner to do anything if they don’t want to without extensive time delays

-

Different legislation needs to be used depending on where the contamination is located (That is 

Buildings v Land)

-

Not really any repercussions on owners if they do nothing

-

Fines are out of date. The legislation is over 60 years old and the fines don’t represent a true reflection 

of the current financial world 9i.e. Under the Health Act there is a maximum fine of $500).

-

The NZ Standard is not legally enforceable (Unless a council creates a Bylaw that references it). This is 



unlikely in the current council environment where there is a focus on reducing legislation where 

possible. 

-

We can’t take any action if the property is vacant  



Methamphetamine – Understanding your obligations

An Auckland Council perspective



Obligations, Liability and Insurance Considerations for Sales Agents

▪ There is no legal prohibition on selling houses which have suspected, or 

confirmed, methamphetamine contamination.

▪ A real estate agent is bound by legislation and rule of professional conduct to 

disclose issues with houses. 

Obligations of Sales Agents


▪ As a licensee under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008, a real estate agent cannot 

rely on the “buyer beware” principle like a vendor can.

▪ If  you have knowledge of an issue, the only appropriate course of action is to 

advise prospective purchasers. 

Obligations: Duty of Disclosure


▪ Rule 6.4 of the REAA Code of Conduct:

A licensee must not mislead a customer or client, nor provide false information, 

nor withhold information that should be inlaw or in fairness be provided to a 

customer or client

▪ Knowing that there is a level of contamination, but failing to disclose this to 

purchasers, would be in breach of Rule 6.4. However, agents also need to bear in 

mind their obligations to the vendor, as their principal, and secure their consent 

to disclosure FIRST

Obligations: Real Estate Agents Act (Professional Conduct and Client 

Care) Rules 2012


▪ Even if tested, and if contamination levels below the new Ministry of Health 

guidelines, local authority guidelines and/or the new New Zealand Standard, the 

fact of any contamination should be disclosed. 

▪ However, you can disclose information on the guidelines which demonstrates 

that the level of contamination is “minor”.

Obligations: Extent of Disclosure



▪ Rule 10.7 of the REAA Code of Conduct:

A licensee is not required to discover hidden or underlying defects in the land but must disclose known defects to 

a customer.  Where it would appear likely to a reasonably competent licensee that land may be subject to hidden 

or underlying defects a licensee must either –

a)

Obtain confirmation from the client, supported by evidence or expert advice, that the land in question 

is not subject to defect; or

b)

Ensure that a customer is informed of any significant potential risk so that the customer can seek 

expert advice if the customer so chooses

▪ If you suspect that a house is contaminated you must either:

▪ get the vendor to obtain evidence to confirm; or 

▪ tell the customers that you believe there is a potential risk so that they are able to arrange 

testing.

Obligations: Extent of Disclosure



▪ Rule 10.8 of the REAA Code of Conduct:

A licensee must not continue to act for a client who directs that information of 

the type referred to in rule 10.7 be withheld.

▪ If a vendor refuses to disclose information that indicates the house is 

contaminated to potential purchasers then you must walk away from that client. 

▪ Unless there is a real (immediate) risk to public safety resulting form brief 

exposure to contaminated areas, there is no need to inform everyone who 

attends an open home. 

Obligations: Extent of Disclosure


▪ Breach of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 or the Real Estate Agents Act 

(Professional Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2012 may constitute unsatisfactory 

conduct or misconduct under the Act. 

▪ The licensee could face disciplinary action before the Complaints Assessment 

Committee or the Real Estate Agents Authority.  

▪ Tort: Breach of duty of care to inform purchaser and possibly FTA claim.

Liability


▪ Insurance companies differ from each other in what they will or will not cover, 

and the conditions of cover. 

▪ The best thing to do is consult with your insurance company to make sure you 

have cover that suits you best should you find yourself in a position where you 

have sold a contaminated property.

▪ Notify your insurer as soon as possible of an issue.

▪ Provided you have acted in good faith and have been open and transparent then 

your professional indemnity insurance should step in.

Insurance Considerations


▪ However,  cover can be declined for dishonest behaviour, so always be open and honest. 

▪ Your obligations under the Policy must be fully met for a claim to be accepted.  Meeting these 

obligations and managing a property sale well are the best ways to protect yourself. 

Insurance Considerations



▪ “Text book approach” : CAC Complaint No: C08188

▪ What about your obligations to your vendor client? : Barfoot v REAA 



and Giles [2016] NZREADT 049/15 

Discussions









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