Sentencing — supplying the Class A drug methamphetamine — supplying the Class A controlled drug cocaine — unlawful possession of a firearm — receiving stolen property — minimum period of imprisonment — Sentencing Act 2002, ss 27 & 86 — Zhang v R [2019] NZCA 507, [2019] 3 NZLR 648. The defendant appeared for sentence on charges of supplying methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm and receiving stolen property. Over a four-month period he had sold approximately 420 grams of methamphetamine, worth between $150,000 and $250,000. He also helped a co-offender to supply 14 grams of cocaine to a third party, supplied the co-offender with a shotgun which she later used in a neighbourhood dispute, and took possession of a stolen motorhome. The amount of methamphetamine involved meant that the offending fell into the upper end of band 3 of R v Zhang. The Court found that on the facts of the case the defendant was a middleman in a methamphetamine-selling operation; he had connection to people higher up the supply chain, and was able to obtain and supply significant amounts of methamphetamine on short notice. The Court set a start point for the methamphetamine offending of nine years' imprisonment, and added uplifts of nine-months for the firearms offending, six months for the receiving charge, and three months for previous offending. In mitigation the defendant had had a dysfunctional upbringing with exposure to traumatic events, was willing to undergo rehabilitation and had pleaded guilty. The final sentence was six years three months' imprisonment, with a 50 per cent minimum period of imprisonment. Judgment Date: 25 September 2020.