A guarded response from Housing New Zealand about whether people kicked out of their homes because of meth contamination will be compensated.

The Prime Minister's Chief Science Adviser says there's no evidence third-hand exposure from smoking the drug causes adverse health effects.

Housing New Zealand chief executive Andrew McKenzie told Mike Hosking he apologises for any inconvenience.

"We are going to report back to the minister on what is appropriate, certainly we really regret the way in which this has evolved, and that is that we has meant that we have asked people to leave homes.

We do apologise for the inconvenience this has caused them."

McKenzie says Housing New Zealand hasn't received legal advice but will do what's fair and reasonable.

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW MCKENZIE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING