Lion man yet to return gear to Zion one year after order

Craig Busch. File photo / Supplied

Lion man Craig Busch has yet to return tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment to Whangarei's Zion Wildlife Gardens, more than a year after he was ordered to do so.

In November 2009, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ordered Mr Busch to return equipment he took after being sacked from Zion, the big cat park he helped make famous through The Lion Man TV series.

Mr Busch has been in Africa since the ruling, and his lawyer said he would be legally compelled to return the items only on his return to New Zealand.

It is not known when Mr Busch will be back in the country.

The property he was ordered to return included a 2005 Nissan Patrol vehicle, two trailers, a tranquilliser gun, auger drills for an excavator, power tools, an air compressor, a water pump, computers, ladders and gates.

Zion spokeswoman Sara Reid confirmed Mr Busch had yet to comply with the ERA ruling.

"The defiant attitude makes a complete mockery of the system," she said.

Zion did not say whether it would go to the Employment Court.

Mr Busch's lawyer Daniel Erickson said the ERA's ruling was clear.

"The terms of the requirement to return the items ... doesn't kick in until he returns to New Zealand."

The ERA refused to comment on the case, but said that in instances of non-compliance, the aggrieved party could file an application in the district court for enforcement or apply to the ERA for a compliance order.