A husband and wife who slept on top of their cannabis haul were sentenced at Whanganui District Court this week.
Judge David Cameron told the Turangi couple that they had avoided prison by the narrowest margin.
Tau Thompson, 53, stood in the dock with his arm around his wife Moana Simeon, 55, and both mouthed "thank you" to Judge Cameron when he passed down a sentence of 11 months' home detention at a Turangi address, and convicted them for possession of cannabis to supply.
Conditions were also placed on the couple - that they must must not consume alcohol or take drugs, and complete alcohol and drug counselling as directed by their probation officer.
A total of 1225 grams of cannabis was found in three shopping bags under a mattress of the bed the couple slept on when police raided Thompson's brother's home in Wanganui on May 17, 2013.