The company that runs Whangarei's Kingdom of Zion wildlife park has been ordered to pay a former employee almost $11,000 for outstanding wages, holiday pay and annual leave.
But the Employment Relations Authority has ruled that Earth Crest did not unjustifiably dismiss the man.
Neville Bradford left his job as a groundsman at the park, in Kamo, in July 2012 - six months after taking the role - and in November that year filed a personal grievance with the ERA alleging he was unjustifiably dismissed by Earth Crest and was owed outstanding unpaid wages and holiday pay totalling $13,911.55 by Earth Crest.
The company denied it terminated Mr Bradford's employment which it claims ended by mutual agreement, but accepted that it owed Mr Bradford the sum of $2461.15.
In her decision, ERA member Eleanor Robinson ruled that Mr Bradford's employment was terminated by mutual agreement. She upheld Mr Bradford's claim for outstanding unpaid wages and holiday pay, awarding him $7751.25 in outstanding wages; $1385.10 in annual leave entitlement; $1375 for statutory holidays worked but not paid and $4542.50 in interest - $10,953.85 in total.