'Meth house' neighbour says tenant 'unremarkable'

Environmental Science Research scientists examine the Taipuha Rd house. Photo / John Stone

A neighbour living within 50 metres of a house where millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine was cooked says he saw no suspicious activity alerting him to the commercial drug operation with gang links.

Armed police raided the three-bedroom brick house on Taipuha Rd, southwest of Whangarei, on Tuesday. No one was at the rural property at the time but in a series of raids around Whangarei 14 people were arrested, among them several Head Hunter gang members.

Yesterday a team of scientists from Environmental Science Research in Auckland continued a detailed examination of the house where police say in one recent three-day period $3 million worth of methamphetamine was cooked.

Neighbour Rip Tripp, who has lived in his home for 32 years, said there had been no one living in the brick home full-time for years. He had observed people occasionally staying overnight and said traffic to the house had been minimal.

"There was no suspicious activity and nothing remarkable that caused me any concerns," Mr Tripp said.

The 80-year-old, who served in the Korean War for England, said the first he knew of trouble was when he spotted police "all over the place" about 7am on Tuesday.

"There were so many of them at first I thought it was a murder."

He was yet to be spoken to by police but had learned via news bulletins about allegations of the commercial drug operation next door.

"I was very surprised. I would have expected huge traffic flows but there was nothing unusual. A guy comes to mow the lawn every few weeks."

A farmer driving past the house yesterday said he had occasionally seen "a couple of clean-cut young guys" there but had never spoken to them.

Police believe the lab supplied much of the drug sold in the South Island market. Detective Inspector Kevin Burke said the investigation was continuing and more arrests were likely. He said a caveat would be placed on the property and the Proceeds of Crime Act invoked.

Mr Burke expected the ESR team would complete their work yesterday.

As the scientists and a specialist clandestine team processed items found at the house, Whangarei District Council (WDC) staff were also inspecting the property.

WDC environmental health officer Reiner Mussle said once the council received official confirmation from police a property had been used in the manufacture of methamphetamine the landowner was contacted and told they needed to use an accredited company to conduct testing to confirm if there was contamination.

If so, remedial action was needed.

"If the premises are likely to be lived in, we liaise with Northland District Health Board and can issue a Health Act notice in an effort to ensure that, in the interim, the property is not used as accommodation," Mr Mussle said.

"I am of the opinion that it is highly unlikely, in this most recent case, that anybody would be moving into this property to live there, especially under the current conditions, but as a precautionary measure we will most likely issue a Health Act notice to avoid the legal occupation of the premises."