An Auckland man has been fined $7,500 after being found guilty of animal cruelty and illegal meat processing.
Anitema Tuungafasi Pulu, 54, was sentenced at Pukekohe District Court on Friday (15 November) on three charges under the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Products Act. The case followed an investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Between September 2022 and May 2023, MPI investigators visited Pulu’s Pukekohe property six times and found evidence of inhumane pig slaughter. Despite being served a prohibition notice in November 2022 under the Animal Products Act, Pulu continued to kill and sell pigs illegally.
“The distress and suffering he caused these pigs was unacceptable,” said MPI Director of Investigations Gary Orr. He also highlighted Pulu’s failure to register his business, avoiding crucial food safety regulations.
“This undermines our food safety system designed to protect consumers,” Orr added.