Decision on Zion row reserved

A decision on an employment relations claim against "Lion Man" Craig Busch is likely to be at least a month away.

Mr Busch has dropped his unjustified dismissal case against Zion Wildlife Gardens, near Whangarei, and his bid to be reinstated to his job.

He had claimed his mother, Patricia Busch, unfairly sacked him.

But the park's counterclaim, seeking the return of company property and claiming for loss of income and legal costs, is ongoing.

The Employment Relations Authority investigative meeting resumed on Monday, 2 months after it was postponed in May following the fatal mauling of Zion big-cat handler Dalu Mncube.

A spokeswoman for Zion said the meeting concluded on Tuesday and she expected a decision would be released in four to six weeks.

Last week, authority member Yvonne Oldfield declined an application from Mr Busch for a stay of proceedings.

The Lion Man had argued that High Court proceedings he had taken for reinstatement of his shareholdings and directorships of the park overlapped the subject matter of the counterclaim against him to such an extent that the Employment Relations Authority hearings should be stayed.

Ms Oldfield disagreed, saying the High Court matters would not address issues before her.

- NZPA