The conviction of a Blenheim man for clubbing to death 23 fur seals sends a strong message to animal abusers, Conservation Minister Nick Smith says.
Jemaal Peter Roy Large, 38, was convicted today of two charges in relation to the attack on native fur seals, including some newborn pups, three years ago.
The seals were beaten to death with a galvanised steel pipe at the Ohau Point seal colony, on the Kaikoura Coast, in late 2010. Other seals had injuries suggesting they were beaten.
Large's co-accused, Jason Trevor Godsiff, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2011 for his part in the crime.
Large had not disputed that he and Godsiff had killed the seals, but had pleaded not guilty to ill-treating them.