Horizons Regional Council says it welcomes the sentencing of PGG Wrightson and Carrfields Livestock following a significant animal effluent discharge from the Feilding stock yards into the Makino Stream in February last year.
The prosecution case was heard by the Environment Court in Levin on Monday where Judge Brian Dwyer imposed fines of $71,250 on Carrfields and $75,000 on PGG Wrightson.
The court noted that the offending was reckless, particularly given the stock yards are largest in the southern hemisphere, as well as the significant effort by the Manawatū River Leaders' Forum to improve rivers in the Manawatū catchment.
Horizons strategy and regulation group manager Dr Nic Peet says the council takes their role as an environmental regulator seriously.
"Where appropriate we put significant matters before the court."
Dr Peet says the discharge, initially reported to Horizons' pollution hotline staff by a member of the public, was entering the Makino Stream directly from a stormwater pipe connected to the Feilding stock yards.