File photo: RNZA Kaikōura dairy farmer has been fined $35,000 for failing to register hundreds of cattle or track their movements on and off his farms. Trevor Ronald Bolton, 59, was sentenced at the Kaikōura District Court on March 6, after pleading guilty to three charges under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) Act. Under the act, the movement of all cattle or deer must be declared to Operational Solutions for Primary Industries within 48 hours. MPI district manager of animal welfare and NAIT compliance upper south Paul Soper said the system was critical in tracing animals to manage disease or biosecurity incursions. Soper said MPI took non-compliance with the animal tracing rules seriously.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 09, 2026 21:48 UTC