Auckland man who illegally killed and sold pigs fined $8,000
An Auckland man who illegally killed and sold pigs and a chicken has been fined $8,000.
A Waikato farmer has been convicted and fined $25,050 for carrying out unlawful earthworks in a stream on his Te Awamutu property in May and June 2020.
The prosecution was taken by Waikato Regional Council under the Resource Management Act following a complaint from a member of the public and subsequent investigation.
The sentence was imposed in the Hamilton District Court by Judge Melinda Dickey on 29 November having heard that the defendant, Dennis Veen, used his excavator to dig up approximately 500 metres of stream bed, in the base of a gully system 600 metres upstream from the Waipā River.
When asked by the council for an explanation, Veen stated he was "cleaning our his drains".
The council case confirmed that the stream provided a natural habitat for a selection of native fish species and caused a significant discharge of sediment, a main contributor to contamination of the Waipā River.
In sentencing, Judge Dickey considered the defendant's lack of awareness of the rules protecting natural watercourses and commented that he "was highly careless to have not made any inquiry about the rules applying to such activities".
"This is a stark reminder to anyone who sits at the controls of an excavator, that there are very clear protections in place prohibiting the destruction of wetlands and river systems," says Council regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch.
There are clear guidelines and rules around earthworks activities to reduce any negative impacts of sediments and erosion. Information is available on the council website at waikatoregion.govt.nz/earthworks or by calling 0800 800 402.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.
OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.
Through collaborative efforts with exhibitors, visitors, and industry partners, Fieldays says it is reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility with new initiatives for 2025.
Fonterra has announced a record forecast opening organic milk price of $12.30/kgMS for the new season.
OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…
OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…