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Lollies containing meth donated to Auckland City Mission, distributed in food parcels
Lollies containing a “potentially lethal dose” of methamphetamine were distributed in food parcels from the Auckland City Mission after they were donated by a member of the public.
The mission was alerted when a parcel recipient reported “funny tasting” lollies, and missioner Helen Robinson says she is “absolutely devastated” by the turn of events.
The Drug Foundation said a lolly checked contained 3g of meth – a “potentially lethal dose”.
The white lolly was brought into one of its drug checking clinics in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon.
Foundation executive director Sarah Helm said “a common dose to swallow is between 10-25mg, so this contaminated lolly contained up to 300 doses”.
“Swallowing that much methamphetamine is extremely dangerous and could result in death.”
Helen Robinson Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams
In a statement, the mission said the Rinda brand pineapple lollies in a sealed retail-sized package were donated by an unknown member of the public.
“As a measure of safety, lollies still on site were tested by NZ Drug Foundation. Tests confirmed that the lollies tested contained potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine.
“We are in the process of contacting possible recipients to inform them of the issue and give them guidance on next steps. Public safety is our key concern.”
The mission said it only accepted commercially manufactured food for inclusion in food parcels and the lollies appeared as such when donated.
It was “deeply concerned” and was working with the NZ Drug Foundation and police, it said.
Helm said “We don’t know how widespread these contaminated lollies are, so we recommend not eating any Rinda brand pineapple lollies if you have them”.
“If you or someone you know has eaten one and feels unwell, call 111 immediately.”
Robinson said anyone concerned they might have received one of the lollies should called 111 and if they were feeling unwell, go to the nearest healthcare provider urgently, or also call the national poison line on 0800 764 766.
Symptoms might include:
- Chest pain
- A racing heart
- Seizures
- Hyperthermia
- Delirium
- Loss of consciousness
In a statement, police said they were investigating the incident and were treating the matter as a priority, given the risk to the public.
“Our initial enquiries have established that the food items concerned – Rinda brand pineapple lollies – may have been distributed to food parcel recipients over the last several weeks.
“Police are urging anyone who has received the Rinda brand pineapple lollies in a food parcel to not consume the lollies and to secure them out of reach of anyone in the household.
“If you do have these lollies in your household, please call police on 111 so we can retrieve them.”
The Drug Foundation said it has notified High Alert, who are part of the National Drug Intelligence Bureau, responsible for drug harm notifications.
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The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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