A Coromandel farmer has been convicted and fined after a "staggering" amount of dairy effluent seeped into the Tairua River.
Peter Craig Darrah's continued and deliberate discharge of effluent into farm drains that flow to the Tairua River occurred over an 11-year period between 2003 and 2014.
Darrah was fined $72,750 after being convicted of eight offences under the Resource Management Act.
The prosecution, brought by Waikato Regional Council, arose after a complaint was received in August 2014 about effluent management practices on Darrah's Hikuai Settlement Rd farm near Tairua.
A council inspection found the farm's effluent ponds were overflowing to water. Hoses were also found that appeared to be set up for the purpose of pumping effluent into farm drains.