Five areas in the North Island have been identified as "hot-spots" where a P lab is more likely to be found.
University of Auckland researchers have been looking at the prevalence and geographical spread of where the illegal drug methamphetamine was being made.
In the study, published this week, Helensville, Herekino (in the Far North), Hamilton Central, Opanuku (in West Auckland) and Newton (in Central Auckland) were identified as "hot-spots".
Drs Daniel Exeter and David Newcombe had gathered and mapped out police data of clandestine meth lab seizures (2004 to 2009).
They analysed this further in light of an area's demographic features and found in three of these areas the residents tended to be younger, earned less, had higher levels of deprivation and it was a more rural area.
However, the researchers, from the University's School of Population Health, said these socio-economic characteristics were not as visible in both Hamilton and Helensville.
Dr Exeter said this suggested there were other unknown factors at play.
"There's no single group of determinants or causes that we can attribute to an environment that is a meth lab production hub," he said. "Meth, and meth production, knows no bounds."
The research titled; The geography of methamphetamine manufacture in New Zealand between 2004 and 2009, showed the majority of clandestine meth labs were found in a private residence - accounting for 808 (76.5%) of 1056 seizures carried out in 2004 to 2009.
More recent police data obtained by the researchers showed this figure had almost halved within the subsequent five years to 561 - with 362 (57%) occurring at a residential home.
From 2004 to 2009 clandestine meth laboratory seizures from a vehicle accounted for 138 (13%) and 21 were at a motel or a hotel (2%).
Other places where seizures occurred were in a public place, such as a cemetery, park, school yard dumpsters and the parking lot of a police station or storage unit.
National manager Organised Crime detective superintendent Greg Williams said police were concerned about the drug's impact on the community.
Since 2009 he said police had been working to break supply chains and enhance support for those who needed it.
"It is a concern for police why members of our community would even consider experimenting with or continue to use it when they know the serious consequences it can have."
Drs Exeter and Newcombe hoped their investigation could help those working to curb the drug's production and its use to further hone in on areas that needed help most.
Dr Newcombe said the geographical information could prove useful if it was incorporated into public databases.
"For instance, a national clandestine methamphetamine laboratory registry accessible to the public may be beneficial to potential home owners and renters who want to ensure their families are protected from exposure to methamphetamine contaminated properties."
One Hamilton landlord, who didn't want to be identified, had experienced first-hand the costly impact of a meth-contaminated property.
He only found out meth had been in the Frankton house when he went to sell last year - but due to exclusions in his insurance policy was unable to claim on damages.
The landlord was unable to prove conclusively it had been used as a lab, but said the level of contamination in one room was consistent with those that had been.
"I was gutted when I found out the house was contaminated," he said. "But I thought I should have insurance and I will just get it cleaned up and back on the market, good as gold."
But one year on the house, which had an asking price of $329,000 remained vacant and was for sale "as is, where is".
Few acceptable offers had been made.
"I had one of $80,000, I didn't know if it was a joke."
So to improve his chances at a sale, he is forging ahead with decontaminating the property, at a cost of around $10,000 this week.
He also has to get a new kitchen, six new ceilings, a new stove, eight new walls, replace the insulation in the roof, all of the doors, door handles and light switches.
