The article below describes what is becoming a huge problem in NZ; for the owners of such properties and those who either buy or rent them after a 'P' lab is busted. The long-term damage is a lurking time bomb. When you read about people who used homes for this nasty trade, living with the chemicals and often having small children in the same home, it is beyond belief, but it happens. We must follow through and do what the article that follows this says---establish a data base so that would be buyers or renters know the history of a home. We also need adequate compensation for innocent owners. Read my book, ROSKILL to see other effects of 'P' on a family; a must read for parents and their teenage children. You can download if from my website
Homeowners seek compensation for thousands of tainted properties.
Zita Cameron, her husband Anthony Cameron and their daughter Alexia Cameron, 3.
A leading property firm is setting up a team to fight for compensation over houses that have been contaminated by methamphetamine.
National valuation company Prendos was first to highlight the leaky homes crisis in the mid-1990s. It now says that hundreds of millions of dollars could have been wiped off the value of residential properties used as P labs.
Prendos director Gordon Edginton said the firm had set up a specialist section for people who have lost money on a meth-contaminated home, after noting a sharp increase in the number of people seeking help and advice.
"It is believed that in the past 15 years up to 20,000 properties in the Auckland region alone could be affected," Edginton said. "That would equate to about $600 million being lost as these properties become stigmatised.
"The situation is reminiscent of when the leaky homes debacle first started to break." Edginton said reparation could come from vendors, insurance companies and the Government - or from cash or assets seized as proceeds of crime.
Edginton also called for an accessible national database to record meth-affected properties.
Police currently notify councils about addresses contaminated by meth and this is noted on property files. Real-estate agents must also disclose the presence of contamination if they are aware of it.
Miles Stratford, from the Auckland Regional Methamphetamine Working Group, wants a national scheme similar to the Earthquake Commission's agency.
However, Housing Minister Nick Smith is ruling out Government intervention, saying if it bailed out people whose properties had been affected by P it would take some of the responsibility off owners and landlords to keep a close eye on their tenants and properties. Family home tainted by drugs
Zita and Anthony Cameron have kissed goodbye to about $385,000 since the family home they rented out was used as a P lab.
The Camerons - who have five kids - planned to return to their eight-bedroom home in Alfriston, South Auckland after two years working in Tauranga.
Instead they were plunged into a nightmare when police raided the Auckland property in July 2010 and one of the tenants was jailed for making meth. The Camerons then sold the house for far less than it would have returned had it not been tainted by drugs.
"The market value was about $1.1million but it went for $715,000," Zita said. "The fact the house had been contaminated by meth was put on the Lim report and that devalued it significantly."
Zita said they were still struggling to recover. The large family now lives in a three-bedroom house. "My kids keep asking if we will ever have a home as nice as our old one and it is heartbreaking, the chances are we won't. People should be properly compensated for something like this."
Isn't it so typical. Of who or what, I shall leave up to you, but I brought a new fishing rod before Xmas and haven't even taken it for a spin. My brother and my good mate, M reminded me of that fact. M even sent the Maori Calender to get me going. For those of you who don't know what that is, go Google it. I m sure you will get the picture. Of course if we manage to catch anything, I won't be allowed near the filleting knife--I'm sure I would make the fish 'uncookable!' Better get out there before summer goes north! www.authorneilcoleman.com
I know---'OH no,' you say'---he's going on about the bloody connectivity thing again! Yes---but it's bloody annoying, especially when I am doing something important. Yes, I do things that are important---I talk to YOU! It drops out at least two or three times a day. So what to Telecom doing about it? Well, I must say---a lot! Every time we company, they (the call centre is in Manilla and I cannot fault their politeness, patience and the energy they bring to the issue) go check it online, go through any issues and they then monitor the line---no not spying; that what the GCSB do! Today, they suggested that we move the cordless phone further away from the modem. Time will tell if that helps. We were also told that it is 'normal' for this to happen, maybe once a day. Mmm--- not so sure about that one----Comments, please people. I intend offering 'clinical supervision via Skype, so you can understand that 'drop outs' are a pain in the arse!
The new website is only days away now, so look out for it and expect a big push from mefor ROSKILL. I would love you all to bits if you shared the link and asked your mates to do the same. Help me to beat the 'big boys and girls in the publishing business, Surely the 'little people (well, I am NOW!) can win occasionally. OK, once again---here's the site: www.authorneilcoleman.com
I do not know whether I should smirk, smile or throw my hands up in sheer confusion. Why are so many politicians flocking to hear the words of the ‘man,’ namely Kim Dotcom? Has there been a person in recent memory that has had such an impact on political events in NZ? Has anyone assumed his almost ‘spiritual’ ascendancy? Has anyone sat after his guests have left and laughed his ample tits off so hard? KDC must be most amused at the spectre of these politicians coning to his ‘rented Mansion,’ to hear his words of ‘wisdom.’ Do they depart any the wiser or are they equally confused and embarrassed that they should kowtow to him?
Who is this man who is making an impact on the political biosphere on NZ/ He comes to us with a possibly chequered past. He has been the darling of the media and certain groups who wish to expose the misdoings of Government and he has most successfully embarrassed the later. He has challenged them in Select Committees and watching the reaction of our Prime Minister was indeed amusing.
Perhaps KDC has identified issues that needed addressing; claiming that he is doing this for good reasons. One should not forget his own journey when judging the effectiveness and morality of this big man.He has expressed an interest in forming a political party and then said that he would disband it if is looking like it does not reach the magic 5% threshold needed in NZ politics in order to gain a seat in parliament (unless of course a candidate of KDC’s choosing gets in on their own by winning an electorate). Of course KDC cannot stand for elections himself, because he is not a NZ citizen. Of course our present PM has also said he would chuck the toys from the cot if he loses too, so maybe they have more in common than they would choose to admit!
So KDC must pull the strings from afar, hoping to get enough support for his ‘team’ in order to gain a foothold in Parliament. That he does so with all of this intrigue is unusual in NZ. He has managed to gather a strange mixture of support, some of it coming from the young and techie world and also from those who would not normally vote. It will be a ‘strained’ coalition of interests and I suggest one that will be difficult to remain cohesive. The actuality of parliament and the real world will sorely test KDC’s ability to hold his party together.
In making my points, I am not saying that Parliament isn’t the place for a party as KDC is proposing, but I do wonder at how someone can lead from a distance; we all know that it is ‘him’ that would be in peoples’ minds when they vote for the ‘clone’ who represents his views.
I can’t wait to see the ramifications once he truly makes his stand. Of course this all may be a moot point, if the present Government gets their way and has him extradited back to the USA! What would his supporters do then?
What’s with these meetings between Kim Dotcom and the two leaders of the Greens and NZ First? Are they really that worried that Kim will take votes from their parties at the next election? Does Kim represent that much of a threat to their chances or are they just overreacting to media reports (unsubstantiated) that the ‘fledgling’ party led by a man who cannot even stand for Parliament that there is huge support for ‘him?’
The polls which leave a great deal to chance at this time, well before the real event, are not showing that support. The so-called large numbers of people who say they are going to vote for Kim Dotcom (Remember, he can’t actually stand) are nothing more than ‘possibilities,’ and past history has shown that what people say to pollsters and others who ask about ‘intentions,’ are notoriously askew.
There have been reports that Russell Norman wanted to ask Kim Dotcom to pull out of the election cycle in return for some deal re the latter notbeing extradited to the USA. I find that a little bit over the top. Any leader promising such an action is playing with fire.
I say---let it run; let the people decide who will represent them, preferably without backroom deals or other machinations of supposed power. Anything else is just manipulation and dishonest politics. Oops ---how strange that this could be so. That the media is sloshing around with the truth doesn’t add much to the picture either.
If the ‘party of Kim’ did get any real traction, then I would be concerned at the spectre of KDC ‘pulling the strings from outside the tent.’ Not---the NZ way.
I have never bought a new car. Such a dream has always been just that---something beyond my means. Instead, at best I have had the occasional two to three year old cars and almost felt as satisfied with that ‘almost new feel.’ Some would say of course, that such actions are more sensible, given that once you walk out of the ‘show room’ with a new car, the worth plummets. I am not so sure if that is true these days.
So, when I observe Chinese cars coming into New Zealand, at prices well below their competitors and when I read about their ‘good value,’ when taking into account all factors, I start to look a bit more closely.
The price in NZ for Chinese cars starts at around NZ$11,000 for a 1300cc car (A Chery) and rises to over NZ$20,000 for a 2000 sedan from the same manufacturer. Then for those wanting a ‘working car’—you get the offerings from The Great Wall company.
One hears many ‘anecdotal’ tales about the reliability, safety and efficiency issues, as well as the re-sale price. What is certain is that the quality and safety issues are rapidly being addressed and I have read reports (that is the problem—who to believe?) that some models are ‘almost there re some of the above issues.
I would like to take the plunge as it were, but I think I will wait for a little longer, until I consistently read from well-respected Kiwi sources (like the AA) that Chinese cars ‘have arrived with most issues ironed out. Hell, why pay more than twice as much for a similar car from other countries.
I must say though, that even in China, if you have the money, you still chose from European and Japanese (and USA) models. If I had the money, I too would buy a BMW or Audi. Hell, I’d even buy an Aussie car, if they still made them! The bottom line---watch out for those new Chinese cars---they are indeed coming.
We read from time to time about freedom of access to theinternet in China. There are also regular headlines in the news media in NZ, about ‘human rights’ issues in China. There is often an addition to news reports about ‘Leaders’ visiting China bringing up the concerns about the above. I am therefore pleasantly surprised to see that readers in China are reading my blogs, because I do not always present life is China as a ‘bunch of roses.’ (I bet that got a few Chinese readers a little perplexed) To put it another way, after some of my blogs about the ‘concerns’ expressed by our politicians and others, I have been of the opinion that my miniscule attempt to critique the position of those who dare to criticise the might Communist Party, would be sort of---- ‘dampened’ or blocked. Maybe it is because I am only talking numbers re readership of 100s not millions, so my China-blogs hardly matter. I suspect that if I was any more strident in my ‘offerings’ re China and the numbers reached, how shall I put it,’ ---Chinese proportions, then it could well be a different story. I read about the pressure put on Chinese dissidents to ‘shut up,’ or face more dire consequences. They seem to disappear or to surface in the USA when they cross the line of acceptable opposition to the regime.
Still, I am happy to admit that life in China under the leadership of the CP is one hell of a lot better than it ever was under previous emporors and despots. The growth of the middle-classes and the super-rich shows that much is possible in the New China. Maybe environmental issues will be more important than perceived rights in the near future.IN the meantime, go for it, my Chinese readers and greetings from NZ. Want a slice of Kiwiana---go to my website and download my book ROSKILL FOR A SMALL AMOUNT--- USA$4
