Interim enforcement orders placed on Mr Zhi and NZAgri Development Ltd
Environment Southland has been granted interim enforcement orders by the Environment Court which place specific requirements on the Tuturau slink skin operation.
The orders require Mr Zhi and his company to:
- Cease receiving any further carcasses
- Cease processing any carcasses
- Cease all unlawful discharges of contaminant
- Remove all containers storing minced carcasses and dispose of them at an appropriate facility
- Remove all carcasses and dispose of them at an appropriate facility
- Remove contaminated liquid from certain areas and dispose of it at an appropriate facility
While Mr Zhi and his company are required to immediately cease receiving and processing carcasses, the remaining orders must be complied with within 21 working days.
Environment Southland Compliance Manager Donna Ferguson said Council has previously issued an abatement notice which has not been complied with so the Council has taken the further step now to apply for interim enforcement orders.
“Like all enforcement decisions, this was not taken lightly. It reflects the environmental harm and ongoing poor compliance at the site.”
The interim enforcement orders are in place while court proceedings continue. The Council will monitor compliance with the interim orders.
Da Cheng Zhi (known as Eddie) is facing seven charges laid by Environment Southland under the Resource Management Act relating to operations of a slink skin factory between 1 August and 26 September 2025 at Frazer Road, Tuturau.
Six charges relate to discharges of blood, leachate and or contaminants to land in circumstances where they could enter water; the seventh charge relates to failure to comply with abatement notices issued in August and September.
Southland District Council has also laid charges against Mr Zhi and NZAgri Development Limited, and hold interim enforcement orders which have been issued to Mr Zhi.
As the matter remains before the Environment Court, Environment Southland will not comment on matters that may need to be determined by the Court.
