The Council's losing patience with farmers unlawfully discharging dairy effluent

A Waikato farming company and its director, Naginder Singh, received 10 convictions and a 116-thousand dollar fine in Hamilton District Court yesterday.

One of his farm managers, Nikolai van den Einden , was also convicted for breaches of the Resource Management Act and sentenced to 12 months' supervision.

Regional council inspections found the farm's effluent management systems were inadequate and unable to safely contain effluent produced on the farms.

Council investigations manager, Patrick Lynch, says the size of the fine is a sign the court's losing patience with the remaining farmers causing environmental harm.

He says these farms are undoing the good work of so many.