Cockroach hunt spurred by 'concern for Pacific Island pie eaters'

Henry Faumuina plans to appeal against the ERA ruling. Photo / Richard Robinson

An employee who collected dead cockroaches in his locker at one of New Zealand's best-known pie manufacturers says he did it out of concern for Pacific people.

Henry Faumuina, who is Samoan, says Big Ben pies are "incredibly popular" with Pacific Islanders and he was "very worried" for their health and safety when he saw cockroaches in the pie pastry room at his former workplace.

Mr Faumuina said he started collecting the insects as evidence, after repeated pest complaints to the company were ignored.

He was sacked in 2007 after refusing to dispose of the cockroaches he had collected.

Steve Pedersen, acting general manager of Big Ben parent company Purity Foods, denied there was a pest problem and said company policy was for pest sightings to be reported and logged.

Mr Pedersen questioned where Mr Faumuina got the dead cockroaches, as the company had a comprehensive pest control programme and food safety auditors performed regular inspections.

The Employment Relations Authority ruled last week that Mr Faumuina's dismissal was justified.

He is planning to appeal.

"It is not easy catching the cockroaches, and many run away. But those that I caught were my evidence. How can I throw [them] away?"

He kept about 10 cockroaches in disposable gloves in his locker.

Mr Faumuina, who moved to New Zealand in 1974, says he has been struggling to find permanent employment since he lost his 20-year, $14-an-hour supervisor's position at Big Ben.

His partner, who worked at the same company, is also unemployed.

Mr Faumuina's lawyer, Olinda Woodroffe, said the sacking was "absolutely ridiculous".