A Waitaruke man who was ordered to pay $1500 to a theft-hit oyster farmer denies taking the shellfish, despite a Facebook Live video showing him near the farm, accompanied by a post advertising 'oysters fresh off the farm'.
Robert Rika was initially charged with theft over the disappearance of about 10 trays of oysters, around 200 dozen, from Owen Robertson's Whangaroa Harbour farm in January this year. When police dropped the charge due to insufficient evidence, Mr Robertson took him to the Disputes Tribunal.
When the case was heard earlier this month Mr Rika was ordered to pay $750 for the oysters and $750 for Mr Robertson's expenses and inconvenience. Evidence included the Facebook Live video and posts by Mr Rika's son, advertising oysters on the South Auckland Food Facebook page.
However, Mr Rika said he was in Pumanawa Bay that day, where Mr Robertson's farm is located, because he was showing his son around his ancestral home.
"Yes, I was there, the photo shows so. I was taking my son to see the whole of Whangaroa. He's never been here before. There's no photos showing that I took the oysters," he said.
"This naughtiness has got to stop, accusing me without the full and proper facts."