National's rural communities spokesperson Barbara Kuriger says she has kept the party leadership fully informed about animal cruelty charges laid against her family.
National MP for Taranaki-King Country, Barbara Kuriger. Photo: RNZ / Daniela Maoate - Cox
Stuff is reporting the husband and son of National's MP for Taranaki-King Country, Barbara Kuriger, and the company she has shares in has been "charged with multiple animal cruelty offences".
It reported Louis Stephen Kuriger, Tony Michael Kuriger and Lloyd Timothy Harris entered no pleas at their first appearance in the Palmerston North District Court today to 11 charges each.
Stuff said the charges were failing to protect animals, failing to prevent suffering and ill-treatment of animals, and that the company Oxbow Dairies Limited, faced the same charges.
The Ministry for Primary Industries said it began investigating allegations of animal welfare offences related to operations at Oxbow Dairies in late 2016.
It said a range of charges under the Animal Welfare Act were laid last month against Tony Kuriger, Oxbow Dairies Ltd and its two other directors, Louis Kuriger and Lloyd Harris.
Ms Kuriger, who is not facing any charges, has issued a short statement.
In it she confirmed she is a shareholder of Oxbow Dairies Limited and "only recently" became aware of the charges.
"I have kept the National Party leadership fully informed since the investigation began.
"As the matter is before the Courts, I cannot comment further."
The three are due to appear in court again in April.
Mrs Kuriger was named the 2012 Dairy Woman of the Year and has been a member of the Boards of DairyNZ, Primary ITO Board, Taratahi, Dairy Women's Network, and NZ Young Farmers.
