Farmer fined $15k after animal neglect at Kaipara’s Kauri Farms

Farmer Vivian Flett has been fined following an investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries which found neglected cattle. Photo / MPI

WARNING: This story contains details of animal neglect and may be distressing for some readers.

A man in the business of fattening up cows to sell was found to be doing the opposite when authorities visited and found his stock were not only underweight but some lay dead in paddocks with no reasonable explanation.

Vivian Flett, 50, appeared in the Whangārei District Court on Friday for sentencing on multiple charges related to the neglect of animals at his property, Kauri Farms, located in the Kaipara region.

Flett, who operates a business involving farming machinery and calf rearing, came under scrutiny by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in 2022 after three complaints were lodged about the condition of his livestock.

MPI inspectors visited the farm, which housed around 400 calves, three times.

In a summary of facts read to the court, MPI examined 65 animals and found all but two were significantly underweight – averaging 78kg when they should have weighed at least 105kg.

The calves had been weaned off milk but were not receiving the necessary supplementary protein for their age.

Inspectors also noted Flett was not providing adequate feed for the growing animals.

One calf was severely crippled with swollen joints, leaving it unable to bear weight on its right legs.

Two others were dangerously emaciated, and another was found trapped in a muddy bog, dehydrated, undernourished and too weak to escape.

All four were in such poor condition they had to be euthanised.

The court heard that, additionally, nine calves were discovered dead in a paddock, with no signs that they had been humanely put down.

Flett’s lawyer, Chris Muston, argued the neglect occurred after Covid-19 and a particularly harsh winter, but said his client had since made significant improvements.

He presented a veterinary report that supported this claim.

Many of the cows at the farm were underweight. Photo / MPI

“Overall, Mr Flett largely followed my recommendations, and the vast majority of animals returned to good health,” Muston read from the report.

“Some animals did decline in health, but those that became sick were treated or euthanised. Mr Flett did well to remedy the situation.

“He’s learned from his mistakes,” Muston submitted.

Flett requested name suppression, claiming a friend had warned him that public identification would harm his business. However, Judge Greg Davis denied the request.

“The fact there is a conviction is not an exceptional circumstance – that’s simply part of having a conviction,” the judge said.

“One of your mates saying your business will suffer doesn’t, in my mind, meet the threshold of exceptional circumstance.”

Since the incident, Flett had reduced his herd to 50 cattle. He was fined $15,000 and ordered to pay $4312 in legal costs to MPI.

Following the sentencing, MPI said in a statement it was Flett’s responsibility to do the right thing by his animals.

“These welfare problems were avoidable if Mr Flett had been providing sufficient feed and meeting the physical health and behavioural needs of his animals,” MPI animal welfare and Nait compliance regional manager Brendon Mikkelsen said.

“The farm lacked quality pasture and some of the calves struggled to eat supplementary feed, which was mouldy hay and whole kūmara.

“When we find evidence of animal neglect, we take action.”

Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.