A Horowhenua pig farmer and his company have been fined more than $23,000 in the Environment Court for breaching effluent discharge limits.
Colin Kay, who owns several North Island piggeries, pleaded guilty to breaching effluent consent conditions on his Foxton property between April 2008 and September 2009.
Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council says Kay had resource consent to transport effluent from the Foxton property to a farm in Levin.
But it says the effluent stayed on the property and was either pumped onto parts of the farm, or stored in ponds, which overflowed in winter.
The judge told the court that the main concern was that the effluent could leach into groundwater, and though there was no evidence of environmental harm, it was a deliberate act to save money.
Kay and his company, M K Ltd, were each fined $11,750.
