Monday, 03 February 2025 11:15

Pair sentenced over illegal slaughter and sale of pigs

Written by  Staff Reporters
An Auckland man and woman have been sentenced following breaches of the Animal Products Act and the Animal Welfare Act. An Auckland man and woman have been sentenced following breaches of the Animal Products Act and the Animal Welfare Act.

An Auckland woman has been fined $25,245 and an Auckland man has been ordered to do 300 hours of community service for the illegal slaughter and sales of pigs.

Following an investigation and prosecution by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS), Suli Rachael Rejoice Adimin (age 43) and Bruce Baru Luke Vunipola (age 38) were sentenced in the Papakura District Court on 29 January on seven charges under the Animal Products Act, and one charge under the Animal Welfare Act.

NZFS deputy director general Vincent Arbuckle says the pair were operating a homekill business which was not registered as required by the Animal Products Act, meaning they were operating without a risk management programme.

“By failing to do this, they avoided meeting vital checks and balances in our food safety system that are there to keep consumers safe,” Arbuckle says.

“While someone buying one of these pigs may have considered it a great deal, their health was potentially put at risk because of the pair’s illegal behaviour.”

Following a complaint from a member of the public in July 2022 concerning the welfare of pigs on a farm and claims they had seen farmers killing and selling pigs an animal welfare inspector visited the property and spoke with Vunipola.

The inspector observed butchering facilities and a whiteboard with the names of customers and details on pigs sold. This led to a wider investigation, which included a covert food safety investigator buying a live pig to be killed on site for $310 cash in October 2022.

In November 2022, Vunipola was served a Notice of Direction under the Animal Protections Act prohibiting him from operating as a homekill provider as he did not have a registered risk management programme. He was provided education and information on how to operate legally, which he acknowledged understanding.

However, investigators subsequently found the illegal slaughter and sale of pigs continued when another cover investigator was offered a big for sale that same month by Vunipola’s associate, Adimin, for which the food safety investigator paid $220 in cash.

Adimim was then served with the same Notice of Direction as Vunipola, but investigators found the sales continued and charges were then laid against the pair.

“This was an organised operation. During the period of investigation, it was found they illegally sold 222 pigs and four sheep, for which they earned nearly $60,000,” says Arbuckle.

“The majority of operators in New Zealand follow the rules and understand the importance of doing so to keep consumers safe.

“When we find evidence of people deliberately flouting the law, we take action and there are consequences as we’ve seen from the court’s response.”

MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 00 83 33.

More like this

Cheeses recalled over listeria risk

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) says it is supporting importer Goodfood Group in its decision to recall Food Snob and Mon Ami brand French Brie and Camembert cheeses.

Featured

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

AgFirst marks 30 years of agribusiness advice

AgFirst, New Zealand's largest independent agribusiness consultancy, is turning 30 - celebrating three decades of "trusted advice, practical solutions, and innovative thinking".

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best…

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter