In recent weeks, the media has had successive stories pointing out that the problems with meth in this country are on the increase. As we should expect politicians have chosen to use this as an opportunity to “point score”.
This media release from Labour https://www.labour.org.nz/news-govt_must_tackle_meth_use_crisis.
But what responsibility does Labour carry for our current Meth Mess where the problems with meth are on the increase?
How Labour Contributed to the Current Meth Mess
Having been actively involved in the meth risk management space since 2010, the people behind Safe & Healthy Home Solutions are more aware than most, of the contribution political parties have made.
The Labour led government that took over in 2017, took the following steps in 2017/18/19 that have directly contributed to where we are right now.
- Increased acceptable levels of meth in property to 10x that accepted anywhere else in the world and used media connections to vilify lawful business operations to the benefit of criminals. (Gluckman Meth Report May 2018) Consequence of decision to undermine NZ Standard and depart from frameworks of international precedence? Lawful businesses go bust, people lose jobs and people who engage in meth related behaviour are empowered.
- Compensated KO tenants who were evicted from property where there was evidence of meth related behaviour to an average of $8000. (KO evicted tenant compensation June/July 2018) Consequence of decision to compensate with limited checks and balances? People who engage in meth related behaviour are empowered.
- Poorly managed compensation of KO tenants, leading to people who on the balance of probabilities engaged in meth related behaviour and were responsible for the contamination that saw them evicted receiving pay outs. (Actual Tenancy Tribunal Order Tenancy Tribunal Claim [2019] NZTT Waitakere 4193135 July 2019) Consequence of the compensation policy? The first industry to receive government subsidy from the 2017 Labour led government, was methamphetamine manufacture and supply.
- Introduced a policy of property management within KO that saw a blind eye turned to indicators of meth related behaviour. (May 2018) Consequence of property management policy decision? People who engage in meth related behaviour are empowered.
- Denied home buyers access to information which would otherwise influence their buying decision and equipped real estate agents with the tools they needed to minimise legitimate barriers to property sales. (REA change to guidelines around disclosure June 2018) Consequence? More people buy meth affected property that they get to clean up out of post tax income not insurance cover and tax free capital gain, increasing the harm associated with meth related behaviour.
- Aligned Tenancy Tribunal policy with KO operations strategy in terms of tenant accountability for damage caused by illegal meth related behaviour (October 2018). Consequence? Landlords, including KO, save money. People who engage in meth related behaviour are empowered.
- Changed the misuse of drugs act, so engagement of people who possess or use drugs needs to be shown to be in the public interest leading to 2000 less charges per year being laid for possession of meth. (https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/research-data/justice-statistics/data-tables/#General) Consequence? People who engage in meth related behaviour are empowered. They miss out on the intervention typically identified as the catalyst for behaviour change that is engagement with the justice system. Their habits become more entrenched. They use more. They feed their drug habits by dealing, stealing, prostituting themselves or others, manufacturing the drug or allowing ‘their’ home to be used as base from meth manufacture.
Are we really surprised the problems with meth are on the increase?
If you want to know how we can help reduce the impact meth related behaviour has on your property and business, please get in touch info@shhsolutions.com or call us on 0800 638 452.
