Lion Man's sister wants $30k horses back

The Zion Wildlife Gardens, located just near Whangarei. Photo / Janna Dixon

The Lion Man's sister has lodged a police complaint alleging she has been unable to remove two $30,000 horses and other items from Zion Wildlife Kingdom.

Megan Busch said two horses valued at $60,000, two saddles, a briefcase containing a horse clipping unit, assorted horse items, a quad bike and a horse trailer are at the park, but she can't get them back.

However, the park's new co-owner Ian Stevenson said both Patricia and Megan Busch had been asked to provide proof of ownership of any personal items at Zion, but had so far declined to.

Mr Stevenson said the items could belong to another party and it was appropriate to be careful and confirm clearly who paid for them before determining ownership.

He said the park considered the matter closed.

Ms Busch, however, has complained to police and said the animals had been removed from a paddock and herded behind containment gates on February 1 - the day after she was arrested and charged with trespass at the Kamo attraction.

"I am really concerned about their (horses) welfare. We've had horrendous weather and they no longer have rugs and are badly due for attention," she said.

Ms Busch is a member of the Northland Equestrian Society and said her horses were circuit winners but were now non-acclimatised and at risk of a chill, or worse.

She wrote to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the SPCA two weeks ago, pleading for help to retrieve the horses back into her care.

When new owners, Beth McVerry and Mr Stevenson, of Tauranga, served her a trespass notice on January 31, Ms Busch said she could not take away her possessions, including five cats, two dogs and the two horses.

The first attempt to retrieve the animals was made on March 2.

SPCA Whangarei manager Francine Shields said the dispute was a domestic matter.

"We are only concerned about animal welfare issues and MAF's animal welfare staff have advised us there were no problems with that," she said.