A gardener employed by horse racing's Vela family took time off work when it was too hot, too cold and too wet but it was for working in the wind that he eventually lost his job.
Neville Waho worked as one of four fulltime gardeners at the Velas' Pencarrow Stud, near Hamilton, from April 2008 until December 2010.
Staff met on the morning of December 6, 2010, to discuss the day's work and Mr Waho was given the job of tidying the parade area ahead of a horse parade that day, as well as weeding and leaf blowing, an Employment Relations Authority finding out yesterday said.
Mr Waho said he also planned to do weed spraying but was told by head gardener Craig Atherton that the forecast was for wind and that he "should not carry out the spraying if it became too windy".
Stud manager Leon Casey told the authority it was "imperative" spraying was carried out only when conditions were suitable, with no wind or rain, as chemical spray drift was dangerous to the high-value horses at the stud.