Affco in more trouble over South Auckland pollution

An Auckland company has been forced to hand over test results from an internal pollution investigation after a council took out a search warrant.

Auckland Regional Council pollution prevention manager Campbell Sturrock said he thought it was the first time the council had been forced to take the action.

"We requested an explanation of how a pollution incident happened, but on this occasion they refused to disclose the information to us," he said.

The results of Affco New Zealand's investigation into whether it was responsible for polluting the Homai Stream at Wiri would be presented during a case being brought against the company in the Environment Court, Mr Sturrock said.

Affco carries out "pickling" of animal hides - a process that happens before tanning - at Wiri and has been the subject of pollution complaints going back at least six years.

The company has been convicted twice for pollution offences.

The latest incident happened in February when ARC staff found white greasy scum that had a foul odour in the Homai Stream.

The steam drains into Puhinui Inlet, which drains into the Manukau Harbour.

The company, which has consistently refused to apply for resource consents for stormwater discharge from its Wiri site, will be prosecuted for its refusal and for the February incident, Mr Sturrock said.

He did not know why Affco refused to get all its discharge consents in place.

"They have even said to me that if they are forced to get resource consent for the plant they will consider moving it out of Auckland," Mr Sturrock said.

But Affco chief executive Tony Egan said the company disputed there was a requirement for it to get a permit for stormwater discharge.

"It's not as though we are operating as cowboys, but there is one consent where there is a disagreement with the council," he said.

The company had put in a stormwater system to comply with pollution standards.

He had not been aware the ARC was requesting results from the company's pollution testing "until they turned up with a search warrant". He said it was becoming increasingly difficult for Affco to continue operating in the industrial area at Wiri.

Pollution charges carry a maximum $200,000 fine and a maximum prison sentence of two years.