A Tokanui man has been sentenced to 12 months' home detention after being convicted on 35 charges for repeatedly discharging agricultural effluent into the Tokanui Stream.
Andrew Wright was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court after the charges — all in breach of the Resource Management Act — arose from the unlawful operation of his large-scale wagyu feedlot.
The offending ran from July 1, 2023 to November 22, 2024. Effluent discharged from inadequately constructed feedpads flowed into ponds that then overflowed, contaminating the stream over an extended period. Wright also failed to comply with an abatement notice.
Environment Southland was only alerted after a member of the public complained in September 2024 — meaning the discharges had been occurring for more than a year before authorities were notified.
During sentencing, Judge Reid said compliance appeared to be a low priority for Wright before imposing the maximum home detention term.
Environment Southland acting chief executive Rob Phillips said the damage will be lasting. "The non-custodial sentence handed down today demonstrates the severity of the case. This is some of the most extreme effluent discharge offending we've seen in RMA history."
Phillips also pointed to the role the public played in bringing the offending to light. "This case also highlights the important role the public play as our eyes and ears. If anything looks unusual, please let us know so we can check it out as soon as possible."
The 35 convictions and maximum home detention sentence signal where the courts sit on serious, repeated water contamination. For the Tokanui Stream, the damage is already done.