Practical guidance for New Zealand
Meth decontamination costs and project planning
Separate cleaning, testing and repairs, and plan realistic access and completion arrangements.
Guidance reviewed 7 October 2026. This is general property information; health, legal and insurance decisions depend on the circumstances.
What are Healthy & Dry’s indicative prices?
Our published examples are focus cleaning $2,000, small property $5,500, medium property $8,500 and large property $10,950, including GST in New Zealand dollars. Focus cleaning means agreed selected areas; it is not a whole-house package. The minimum focus-cleaning charge is $2,000 including GST. We review an existing test report for a free work assessment and quotation.
These examples are not fixed size-based packages. A single room with difficult coatings or high reported residue can need more work than several straightforward surfaces. The written scope identifies areas, treatment and exclusions. Independent sampling, laboratory analysis and follow-up testing are arranged and paid for separately by the client; obtain the tester’s quote for the number of samples, report, travel and GST treatment.
What should the quote and agreement say?
Compare the target and room-level scope, preparation, treated materials, removals, waste, access, travel and independent verification arrangements. Replacement materials, repairs and repainting are additional unless expressly included. Compare the total project cost, including independent testing, replacement materials, repairs and repainting. Ask which items are included in each quote. Ask how hidden findings and variations will be approved.
For household work, Consumer Guarantees Act protections can apply independently of a company warranty. Business purchases may have different contractual arrangements. Seek consumer or legal advice about an unresolved dispute rather than relying only on a guarantee headline.
Confirm any deposit, payment milestones and due dates before agreeing the work; do not assume insurance or finance approval covers the invoice. Ask what happens if further cleaning is required, which costs are included and how a concern or complaint is handled. Keep written records and contact the contractor about a disputed result. A numerical outcome or permanent protection against later contamination should not be inferred from a general cleaning offer.
Sources: Consumer Protection - Consumer Guarantees Act (opens in a new tab).
How long will testing, cleaning and completion take?
Timing depends on the separate testing, cleaning, drying and completion stages.
A project includes separate stages: report review, any detailed sampling, laboratory results, scope approval, access and preparation, cleaning or removals, drying, independent post-work testing, and any further treatment or repairs. Ask each provider for its own availability and turnaround. Laboratory reporting time is not the same as the time needed to clean and reinstate a property.
For a sale, tenancy start or business reopening, allow for repeat sampling and additional cleaning if the first result does not meet the agreed target. Tell us the deadline before booking and agree milestones in writing. A desired settlement date is not a guarantee of completion; consult your lawyer about contract conditions and extensions before committing to an unconditional timetable.
Where do you work, and can a remote owner arrange it?
Healthy & Dry is based in Taranaki. Methamphetamine decontamination in Taranaki, with lower North Island projects by arrangement. We agree travel and timing with you for each job. We also agree access for the property. Our educational guidance is for readers throughout New Zealand.
A remote owner or property manager can send the existing report and photographs and nominate an authorised contact. Agree keys, notices to occupants, water and power, site access, updates, recipients of reports and who approves variations. Travel, repeat visits and any overnight arrangements need to be clear in the quotation. Rural access and outbuildings should be described separately rather than assumed part of a standard house scope.