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The Lion Man has been axed from the world-famous Zion Wildlife Park which helped him become a household name.
A Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry investigation found 40 of Craig Busch's big cats in insanitary and crowded conditions.
Inspectors were at one stage so concerned they considered putting the animals down.
MAF animal imports and exports team manager Rochelle Linwood told One News that the park's managing director, Patricia Busch, had informed them her son was no longer employed by the park.
She said that meant Mr Busch could no longer fulfil his operator status, so his licence has been cancelled.
Former Auckland Zoo boss Glen Holland has taken over the company and is the new operator.
But Philip Smith, the executive producer of The Lion Man, which has screened in 100 countries, said it did not mean the end of the show.
"The lions will be back on the screen in some way, shape or form," he told TV3.
"The story is always about the preservation and conservation, that's the story and no man or person is bigger than that story."
It was revealed on Tuesday that MAF had spent three months trying to deal with serious animal welfare issues at the park in Kamo, near Whangarei.
The problems stretch back to January when MAF said some of the animals were kept in crowded quarters - seven lions in a cage adequate for two.
The reports also detail concern over staff training and inadequate barriers in some areas to keep the public out of harm's way, with one external fence damaged and not repaired for a day and a half.
Improvements have been made since the concerns were raised. MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said the immediate animal welfare issues at the park had been addressed.
One investigation was ongoing, but he would not comment until it was completed.
Mr Reid said Zion's containment facilities were up to standard and he was satisfied any "domestic or business issues" were not affecting animal welfare or public safety.
"The animals are being cared for and contained appropriately."
Mrs Busch said she was pleased MAF's concerns were now in the past - bar one that was still being addressed.
"They never said ... and we don't believe they were contemplating putting animals down," she said.
"The lions and tigers together was simply the young ones growing up together - and, yes, there came a time where there were too many to keep together."
The damage to a boundary fence was caused by last winter's big storm and repaired as soon as it was discovered, early the next morning. The enclosures themselves were well protected, she said.
Mrs Busch lives in a portable cabin on the site while her son lives in a house. They are understood to be locked in a dispute over management of the park and are to argue it out in the civil court next week.
Neighbours are concerned about tensions at the park, which led to police being called on Sunday night.
Whangarei's Sergeant Neil Pennington said police went to the park after a report that gates were being taken off the lion enclosures, but found that was not the case.
"It's an ongoing dispute over ownership and management of the park between Craig and his mum."
The park is home to 42 big cats, including rare white tigers and Barbary lions extinct in their North African habitat.
