A Pukekohe poultry breeding farm company has been fined $42,000 for the contamination of a stream with chicken effluent.
During a hearing into the matter in Auckland District Court, Waikato Regional Council said in May last year, a large pile of chicken effluent had been stored in a paddock to dry.
The council said a large amount of rain caused the pile to slump and flow towards the stream, with testing revealing significant stream contamination.
In sentencing, Judge Melanie Harland described the actions of the company, T Good Ltd, as reckless and negligent.
She noted the spill was unintended but said more care should have been taken before the stockpile was placed near a downhill sloping paddock close to the stream.
Judge Harland also said the offending was reckless because autumn rain is to be expected, although the severity of rainfall during this period was not.
