A white chemical mist coming from a car alerted police officers to a clandestine meth lab in the boot, after a crash following a police pursuit in Hamilton.
Officers were going after the vehicle when it ran into a fence on Te Rapa Road in Hamilton early this morning.
The driver ran off and officers dealing with the other people in the car found a white mist coming out of the boot.
The Fire Service Hazardous Material Unit was called in, along with the Auckland based Clandestine Laboratory Unit.
One of the northbound lanes on Te Rapa Road was closed.
The 41-year-old driver of the car will appear in the Hamilton District Court today on charges including dangerous driving, and manufacturing methamphetamine.
Two women passengers, aged 42 and 21, each face a charge of possession of drug utensils.
Police said a search of the car found equipment, chemicals and substances associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.