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OPEN COUNTRY Dairy Ltd has been fined more than $35,000 for discharging objectionable odour from its Waharoa factory at the time of last year's "spring flush" when milk supply was high.
Residents from the Waharoa community, near Matamata, complained to Waikato Regional Council that the odour was causing physical effects such as nausea, vomiting, and an inability to sleep.
The council received 45 complaints from local residents over 16 days in October and November last year.
The company told council investigators the odour was a result of infrastructure failures at the factory that saw larger than normal volumes of waste end up in the waste water treatment pond. The pond struggled to cope and the odour developed, with the situation taking some time to recover.
In a recent sentence released from the Hamilton District Court, Judge Melanie Harland commented that the effect on residents of the odour was "profound and continuous".
Yoghurt Story New Zealand Ltd and Frozen Yoghurt Ltd have been sentenced and fined in the Auckland District Court for misleading the public about the nature and characteristics of their frozen yoghurt products.
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A Canterbury dairy farm has been penalised for employment law breaches in what the Labour Inspectorate says "not uncommon" mistake in holiday entitlements.
A farm manager has been awarded reparations of $50,000 after a 2012 quad bike crash at work.
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'A lot of interest and positive responses' appears to be the way farmers are viewing the Government's initiative to hold a series of woolshed meetings around the country.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.
A group set up to boost education and promotion of wool says it has made positive strides during the first year of its three-year strategy.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods says despite a challenging business environment, it has posted a net profit before tax of $61 million for 2023.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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