After speaking with witnesses, Mr Ponder highlighted five incidents of concern featuring Mr Rangitakatu.
Mr Cairney alleged his colleague "yelled and swore" during a dispute over a health and safety issue and blocked his exit from the room.
It was also alleged Mr Rangitakatu had stood the processing staff in a line against a wall and verbally abused them.
Mr Ponder found two staff left as a result.
On March 31 - after various meetings - a letter was sent to Mr Rangitakatu informing him of his dismissal.
"I do not have the confidence that I am able to provide a safe workplace for the other employees whilst you are in the workplace," Mr Ponder wrote.
However, when Mr Rangitakatu took the case to the Employment Relations Authority, ruling member Michael Loftus read the situation differently.
He called Cloudy Bay Seafood's enquiry "deficient" and said foul language was commonplace in the factory environment.
"[The company] failed to properly put its concerns and consider the response and it would appear the outcome was preordained," Mr Loftus said.
Mr Cairney also accepted he was not completely blameless and admitted to swearing and making gestures with his fists during arguments with Mr Rangitakatu.
Despite Mr Ponder saying the sacked worker's tasks had been redistributed and he would likely be made redundant if he came back, the authority ruled he should be reinstated.
Mr Rangitakatu was also awarded payments for loss of wages, loss of bonuses and injury to feelings totalling more than $18,000.
Comment was being sought from both parties.
