Companies that run Whangarei's Zion Wildlife Gardens have pleaded not guilty to charges laid over the death of big-cat handler Dalu Mncube.
Mr Mncube was mauled by Bengal tiger Abu while cleaning its cage at Zion last May.
The Department of Labour laid two charges against Zion Wildlife Services for "failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees while at work". Two charges were also laid against Zion Wildlife Gardens.
The case was called before Judge Phil Gittos in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.
Department of Labour counsel Karena England withdrew one of the charges against each company.
The lawyer for the companies, Brett Harris, initially asked the judge to adjourn the matter without plea as he needed more time to assess files. Mr Harris also disclosed that he had made a request under the Official Information Act for material from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, but that had not come through.
"That material is very important to both defendants when it comes to assessing a plea," he said.
Mr Harris said he had only been involved in the case since February 16 and he needed another four weeks before making a plea, but if one was needed it would be not guilty, at this stage.
But Ms England said the case was first filed with the courts in December and the matter needed to move on with a plea.
Mr Harris pleaded not guilty to both charges and the matter was adjourned to July 6. If the case goes to trial, it is expected to take about a week. The charges were laid under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
Mr Mncube's death was a major blow for the wildlife park, which had gained world-wide fame through the Lion Man television series.
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