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Man Killed in P-Lab explosion

Friday 25 March 2011, 12:12PM

By Methcon Group Ltd

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PUKEKOHE

The overnight explosion of a P-lab in Pukekohe highlights the dangers of  Methamphetamine manufacture in our community according to Dale Kirk the  managing director of Methamphetamine awareness education company Methcon Group Limited

Mr Kirk said that it again highlighted one of the most frustrating factors in our  communities …Apathy.
“ When spoken to by media, neighbours have advised that they all knew that  this house was a P cooking house and that it was only a matter of time before an accident like this happened.”

"This attitude is disappointing and I liken it to leaving a plugged in toaster next to the bath and then complaining when your child is electrocuted “

“The community needs to realize that the war on drugs is not one that the Police can fight on their own. It needs to be a collective effort between enforcement agencies, educators, media, addiction specialists, the judiciary and most importantly the community”

“ Communities need to take a stand and say NO to methamphetamine. That they will not tolerate this type of terrorism any more”

The other issue that this particular case highlighted was the need for landlords to become educated and be more proactive in their approach to letting properties as methamphetamine use has become entrenched in New Zealand and it places the landlord at great financial and potentially legal risk.

“Insurance companies are becoming increasingly concerned at about the level of claims as a result of Methamphetamine manufacture. This is, and will increasingly result in the onus being placed more and more on landlords to demonstrate that they have made all reasonable efforts to prevent a meth lab
occurring at their properties”

“ Landlords need to educate themselves about the signs and indicators of meth use and manufacture and ensure that they carry out regular checks and document these”

“We work closely with New Zealand largest landlord, Housing New Zealand. They have recognized this issue and are training all tenancy managers with the ultimate goal being to eliminate the use and manufacture of P from their portfolio”

“This approach needs to be replicated in the private sector”