Former Masala group restaurants trading under new names

Rajwinder Singh Grewal pleaded guilty to 15 immigration and exploitation charges.

Some restaurants that were part of troubled Auckland Indian restaurant chain Masala are now trading with different names.

The changes come after two Masala managers admitted in court paying workers as little as $2 an hour.

The Bucklands Beach Masala is now trading as Salt Indian, the Titirangi Masala as Mint and the Birkenhead Masala as Chilli.

A former Masala manager, who did not want to be identified, said the restaurants were renamed to distance themselves from the group in the wake of the high-profile court proceedings.

"The plan is for all outlets to get new names from ingredients that we use in our food, like salt, mint, curry and chilli."

The former manager said many customers previously drawn by Masala's $10 set meals were steering clear after learning the bargains were "coming at the expense of employees' pay packet".

Joti Jain, 42, a director of several companies behind the group, was one of the managers who pleaded guilty.

She would not say if the name changes were a rebranding exercise of the restaurants had been sold.

"I do not want to comment on anything okay, that's enough what I said."

Earlier this month Jain pleaded guilty to 15 immigration and exploitation charges following a Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment sting.

Rajwinder Singh Grewal, 36, pleaded guilty to five charges. Each faces up to seven years in prison or a $100,000 fine when they are sentenced next month.

Court documents showed that four employees who worked at the Bucklands Beach Masala were significantly underpaid.

A waiter was paid $2.64 an hour and a chef was paid a total of $40 for more than two months' work.

An assistant manager worked up to 90 hours a week at about $6 an hour.

Last year, 11 restaurants in the Masala group were fined a total of $66,000 after they failed to provide employment records to a labour inspector.

Gagandeep Kaur said she was the new owner of the Chilli restaurant and it had "totally no links" to the Masala group.

"I was looking for a business and found that Masala was selling and I bought it," Ms Kaur said.

"I'm aware that it comes with complications but I'm determined to make it work."

Masala's $10 curry, rice, naan and drink lunch deal is still on the menu at Chilli and several of its staff have been retained.

Ms Kaur said her business was in transition, and customers who frequented Masala still expected the same offer.

A member of staff at Salt restaurant said it was under new ownership and no longer part of Masala.

Attempts to contact Mint were unsuccessful.