Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Silver Fern Farms fined over Hāwera ammonia leak
Fine or penalty
Silver Fern Farms was fined $337,000 over an ammonia leak at its Hāwera plant. The court said ammonia management was careless and reckless and that the spill polluted nearby waterways.
Company response
Apology — Silver Fern Farms
Silver Fern Farms regretted the incident
Remediation — Silver Fern Farms
We're putting in a full containment water system so that will test water before it's released into any stormwater moving forward
Source excerpt
Judge Dwyer said it overwhelmed Silver Fern Farms' stormwater system, polluting more than 13km of the Tawhiti Stream and more than 6km of the Tāngāhoe River.
Silver Fern Farms has been fined $337,000 over an ammonia leak at its Hāwera plant that was potentially lethal to its staff, emergency services personnel and nearby residents.
In sentencing Judge Dwyer said ammonia management at the plant was "careless in the extreme, an accident waiting to happen and reckless".