Tuakau Proteins Limited was sentenced for discharging unlawful contaminants into the Waikato River. They described the smell as inescapable with windows and doors having to remain closed to prevent the smell of “stale water, rotten carcasses, a baby s soiled nappy or raw sewage” soaking into the walls and carpets. Speaking to
Stuff, complainant Kerry Mosheim said the stench was particularly awful on Christmas and New Year s Day. “It was unbearable. just absolutely disgusting.” Heather McGuire, of Enviroment Action Tūakau, said after years of stink and empty promises of improvement by TPL, the community simply wanted the plant gone.
James Baker/Stuff
The OIA request has revealed that, of staff leaving since 2017, approximately 69 were from its assets team, 12 from its regulatory team, 40 from community and corporate, one from communications, one from economic development and marketing, three from financial services, and three from human resources. At least 70 joined the council’s assets team including 16 regulatory, 44 community and corporate, two communications, three economic development and marketing, four financial services, and three human resources.
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Finding appropriate staff to fill certain roles is proving difficult for the South Waikato District Council. Communications manager Kerry Fabrie put it down to a mix of nationwide skill shortages for particular roles, demanding work and seasonal fixed-term employees.
End-of-year staff functions are a little different this year, says Hamilton City Council Chief Executive Richard Briggs. Slicing up the budget ensured the council’s 1200 staff still had a chance to hold some kind of event. However, the money allocated could not be used to purchase alcohol, with staff having to buy their own if they wanted a tipple. The $20,000 budget was near the $22,323 cost of the council’s 2019 Christmas event, although Briggs pointed out that partners of staff had to pay for themselves, which meant the net cost was nearer $18,600. The 2019 event was held at Claudelands and details of the budget breakdown included $15,091 for catering; $1500 for a DJ; $592 for event advertising and decorations; $2740 for games and activities; $200 for a live band; $561 for prizes; $972 for a photobooth; $215 for security and $81 for snacks.
Peng said he had walked the campground just prior to the curfew but saw nothing untoward. “We had only just set up the new rule. I walked around at 7pm and there were no visitors, so I don’t know when they came in,” he said. “[I believe] it was a family problem between a husband and wife, and they should not have been here. We had never seen them before and it happen just in front of the kitchen.
Luke Kirkeby/Stuff
Security improvements are on the way for Tokoroa s Glenview Holiday Park following a recent stabbing. “Lucky our cleaning staff were working, and they heard it and helped the man being stabbed.”
Dominico Zapata/Stuff
Satwinder Sam Singh is seeking tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and compensation from his former employer.
A liquor licensing committee has told a community activist it will not hear his allegations that two liquor-store owning brothers exploited their migrant worker staff.
Stuff reported in June how three workers alleged they were paid as little as $8 an hour and were collectively owed $400,000 in missing wages and entitlements by Hamilton-based brothers Taranjeet and Jaspreet Singh Janda. Former Salvation Army worker Colin Bridle planned to use the
Stuff story and call one of the former bottle store workers as his witness when he opposed the renewal of the liquor licence for the Janda brothers’ Thirsty Liquor store in Tokoroa.