Andrew James Wright, of Tokanui, was last week convicted in the Invercargill District Court for 35 breaches of the Resource Management Act.
Wagyu cows at his large-scale feedlot were found standing in ‘‘liquid sludge’’ up to their udders in paddocks owned by Wright, who repeatedly discharged agricultural effluent into the Tokanui Stream.
Wright more than a decade ago admitted seven charges related to animals in poor condition on an overstocked Ida Valley farm.
Wright was last week convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ home detention: the maximum time that can be served on such a sentence.
Safe chief executive officer Debra Ashton said the affected animals would have suffered terribly.
‘‘Years on, it is clear that something is still not right there.
‘‘People who have been prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act for animal cruelty should not be responsible for animals.
‘‘This farmer needs to be proactively monitored,’’ she said.
‘‘Members of the public play an important role in reporting what they see; however, the responsibility for monitoring farms, especially where breaches have already occurred, must fall on the Ministry for Primary Industries and Environment Southland.
‘‘The government needs to send a clear message that breaches of the Animal Welfare Act and the Resource Management Act will be taken seriously.’’
Wright had argued bad weather in the spring of 2024 had affected his ability to manage the waste left by his livestock, but the judge rejected this claim.
The defendant had his employees spray waste down a gully which led to a natural spring.
Environment Southland estimated over 480,000 litres of effluent were sprayed down the gully
into the nearby Tokanui Stream.
Over the course of a year, the prosecution estimated Mr Wright made over $1.8 million from his 523 Wagyu cows.
