A Lake Tekapo farmer's been fined 14-thousand dollars -- for not registering nearly 300 deer

John Wheeler has been sentenced in the Timaru District Court, charged under the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act.

It requires registration of all cattle or deer by the time an animal's 180-days-old -- or before it's moved off farm.

MPI spokesperson, Murray Pridham, says Wheeler's failure is serious -- because registering is a critical tool against biosecurity incursions.