Long career ends over chips mistake

An Air New Zealand baggage handler's 36-year career has crashed and burned over five casino chips found at work.

Kevin Madsen was caught out at Sky City casino last September when a cashier recognised the chips as not yet in use and alerted security.

Police and his employer were informed.

A criminal charge of theft by finding ended in a discharge without conviction but Air New Zealand dismissed Mr Madsen.

He went to the Employment Relations Authority in Auckland to challenge the dismissal, but authority member Marija Urlich refused to find fault with the airline's decision, or the way it investigated his case.

She was told the chips had spilled when a package was damaged.

It was thought all were recovered, but Mr Madsen found and pocketed five $25 chips.

- NZPA