Lion Man drops job claim

Northland's "Lion Man" Craig Busch has dropped his claim for unjustified dismissal from the park he helped make famous.

Mr Busch had complained he had been unfairly dismissed from his job at Zion Wildlife Gardens, near Whangarei, by his mother Patricia Busch.

An Employment Relations Authority (ERA) investigative meeting into his dismissal was due to resume today after it was interrupted in May by the death of Zion Gardens handler Dalu Mncube.

But Mr Busch has since notified the ERA he has withdrawn his personal grievance claim.

The meeting was still due to go ahead today as the park has made a counterclaim, seeking the return of company property and claiming for loss of income and legal costs.

ERA member Yvonne Oldfield last week declined an application from Mr Busch for a stay of proceedings.

- NZPA