A dairy farmer and contractor have been fined $67,000 for polluting a Kaipara stream in Northland.
Michael Griffiths, of Kaipara, admitted two incidents of illegally discharging effluent in August last year, making water in the stream undrinkable by stock for at least a week.
Mr Griffiths and his company, Prendre Farms, was fined a total of $65,000 for the offending.
Contractor Gregory Dassler, who was working on the effluent ponds, was fined $1500 and court costs.
Environment Court Judge Laurie Newhook said there had been a history of problems with effluent at the Griffiths' farm, which the farmer had failed to deal with for more than six years.
Judge Newhook ordered 90% of the fines to be paid to Northland Regional Council, which spent $23,000 bringing the prosecutions.
