Dirty café fined $5510

The owner of a Mt Albert cafe, whose premises were found infested with cockroaches, has been fined more than $5000 and must prove why the business should be allowed to remain open.

Mo Mo Teahouse, owned by Green Land Ltd, was convicted in the Auckland District Court this week of 46 charges under the food hygiene regulations after complaints from the public.

The charges related to poor cleanliness and maintenance, a cockroach infestation, no hand-washing facilities, delays in repair work and staff smoking in the kitchen.

Auckland City Council senior environmental health officer David Vince said cockroaches had been found in the "tens" on the floor, walls, chopping surfaces and in appliances where they could drop into food.

Mr Vince said the judge had taken into account the owner's early guilty plea when fining Green Land $5510 - it faced maximum fines of up to $19,200.

The New North Rd cafe featured recently on the television show The Inspectors.