Meth contamination (New Zealand)
Residue from the use or manufacture of methamphetamine in a New Zealand residential rental property. Standards for testing and remediation are set out in NZS 8510 and landlords have disclosure obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Meth contamination is methamphetamine residue left in a residential property as a result of the drug being used or manufactured on the premises. The New Zealand Standard NZS 8510:2017 sets the technical thresholds for testing and remediation that Tenancy Services references when assessing landlord and tenant obligations.
Under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, landlords must disclose known contamination to prospective tenants, keep the property in a condition that meets the standard, and cannot require the tenant to bear remediation costs for contamination that existed before their tenancy began. Tenants must not contaminate the property themselves, and a landlord who can prove meth contamination caused by a tenant can seek remediation costs through the Tenancy Tribunal.
Whether specific test results require remediation depends on the concentration measured against NZS 8510 levels and whether the property is currently tenanted — Tenancy Services publishes the operational guidance, and insurance policies vary materially on what they do and don’t cover.
Primary source
Tenancy Services — Meth in rental properties →Last reviewed 16 April 2026. Rates, thresholds, and deadlines change — always verify against the primary source before making decisions.