Motorist arrested after P discovery

Police are understood to have found more than 5g of methamphetamine. Photo / File

A man was arrested in Napier on methamphetamine dealing charges on Wednesday - the same day police raided a home where they suspected P has been manufactured.

But while an officer said the arrest was not related to the search of a suburban Taradale house, which involved two other arrests and which continued yesterday, people fighting to eliminate methamphetamine said there were signs of increasing use of P in Hawke's Bay.

The dealing arrest was of a 49-year-old whose charges including methamphetamine for supply.

He is also charged with possessing a pipe for the use of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis for supply.

Detective Darren Pritchard, of Hawke's Bay CIB, said that arrest was made after a vehicle was stopped for what he understood was a traffic infringement.

Police are understood to have found more than 5g of methamphetamine, cannabis and about $1500 in cash.

A 39-year-old, whose home address was listed as the scene of the raid in Taradale, has been charged with possessing implements for the use of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a .22 rifle and ammunition which police say was found at the property.

A 30-year-old woman was also arrested initially on a warrant for failing to appear in court. Police are continuing inquiries as are child welfare agencies, with four children having been taken from the house to hospital for assessment, with six adults.

A 4-month-old girl spent a night in hospital and was discharged yesterday. .

Two Child, Youth and Family (CYF) social workers who visited the property on Wednesday alerted emergency services after they became ill later that afternoon, police said.

Police said the fire service was called to decontaminate emergency services staff and the house occupants, including the children who had been taken into CYF care.

Neighbours looked on as emergency service workers were decontaminated, one telling Hawke's Bay Today: "I had no idea what was going on." She said the young parents in the house were always very quiet and respectful and "they are never noisy or throw parties".

Community advocate Denis O'Reilly said if it were a meth lab, it would be "unusual", because home-based manufacturing had become rarer with the emergence of apparently imported methamphetamine and other drugs.

"This would be unusual and sad, and the first thoughts must be with the children," he said.

"It is an issue that is facing many families. It indicates that there is a demand, that it is supply-driven."