Master Builders can step in to help customers of Taranaki building firm caught up in drug raid

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

No work was being carried out on an unfinished Fowler Homes site in Lepperton on Wednesday.

Customers of a Taranaki building company at the centre of a drug bust will have the support of New Zealand's Registered Master Builders Association if required.

The region's branch of Fowler Homes, at the intersection of State Highway Three and Corbett Rd Bell Block, was cordoned off on Monday after police executed a series of drug raids targeting the sale and supply of the sale of the class A drug methamphetamine.

The Fowler Homes Taranaki office was cordoned off by police following a series of raids targeting the sale and supply of methamphetamine on Monday.

A police scene guard remained at the site on Tuesday.

Fowler Homes Taranaki is a member of the country's Master Builders Association (NZRMBA).

Police a cordoned off the Fowler Homes Taranaki office on Monday.

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Taranaki branch president of the NZRMBA Campbell Mattson said while the exact details of the situation were yet to be confirmed the organisation was doing its best to help clients of the firm.

'At present Fowler Homes New Zealand is working with the Registered Master Builders Association to establish all of the facts around the current situation with Fowler Homes and their customers,' Mattson said.

'We're trying to get a full appreciation of the situation and what it means for the customers going forward.'

The NZRMBA website states its Master Build 10-Year Guarantee allowed customers to rest easy in the knowledge that, in the unlikely event something went wrong with their home build or renovation, the organisation would help resolve any issues and finish the home to the highest standard.

Mattson said a full statement to the media would be made in due course.

Fowler Homes NZ principal Tony Hill has not replied to repeated requests for comment about what was happening at the Taranaki office.

Police made three arrests and discovered 11 grams of methamphetamine and an envelope containing a large quantity of cash in the raids, which included a bust at a Fitzroy address.

A 42-year-old New Plymouth man was charged with supplying methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for supply and possession of methamphetamine utensils. He has consented to a remand in custody to appear in the New Plymouth District Court on Thursday.

A 45-year-old Waitara man and a 32-year-old Opunake woman were both charged with possession of methamphetamine.