A senior manager at the Minister for Primary Industries has warned there will be zero tolerance for those who abuse fisheries staff after a man deliberately drove his car at an officer.
Brendon Mikkelsen, the Ministry's Waikato and Bay of Plenty district compliance manager, has warned that the ministry will take a "no-tolerance approach" to any offending, saying it could result in court action.
His comments come after the recent conviction of a Tauranga commercial fisherman who has been fined $3000 after he deliberately drove at a fishery officer.
Bruce William Clifford Roberts, 50, was sentenced in the Whakatane District Court on August 3, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening manner towards a fishery officer.
In March, Roberts was driving his four-by-four from Port Ohope when the officer standing about 100m away signalled him to pull over.