30:(or Crafar Farms) is a group of companies of which Allan, Beth and Frank Crafar were Directors. Crafar Farms was New Zealand's largest family-owned dairy business. The family business owned 22 dry stock and dairy farms with approximately 20,000 cows in various regions of the North Island, and was put into receivership in October 2009. Crafar Farms was involved in multiple prosecutions for pollution offences and incidents of poor animal welfare from 2007 to 2011.
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cowshed effluent". The
Crafars had been prosecuted four times by then, with two more prosecutions pending. Balme commented that most farmers who have good farm systems and infrastructure had every right to resent farmers like the Crafars who damaged the industry. In 2009 they also were investigated by
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farmer
Stephen Smit in support of Allan Crafar. Russell Bouma, the son of a family friend who was murdered in a home invasion metres from the Crafar's own home, said they ran their farm for six months without any payment and described them as being "extremely efficient operators who have helped out a
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payout was a major factor in their business going into receivership. In 2007 Fonterra paid a record $ 7.90 per kilo of milk solids, this dropped by two dollars in 2008 and was just $ 4.55 in 2009. The
Crafars had expanded rapidly by using their existing farms as leverage, and could no longer service
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On 30 September 2009, animal welfare inspectors inspected all the farms owned by the
Crafars for cases of animal neglect. They stated that there were "significant animal welfare issues" among the 20,000 cows on the 22 farms owned by the Crafar family, including incidents of overstocking, inadequate
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prosecuted
Hillside Ltd, Allan Crafar, Frank Crafar and Elizabeth Crafar for 34 dairy effluent discharges. The offences related to dairy effluent spilling from ponds, feed pads, a broken irrigator hose and sumps leading to over-irrigation of paddocks. The Environment Court imposed fines on Hillside
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reported that Allan Crafar and the CraFarm group, had been labelled the "poster boy for dirty dairying" by many in the industry. In response the
Crafars brought new machinery and one of their sons was made a compliance officer with the role of ensuring all the farms complied with the new standards.
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In
January 2011, the Shanghai-based company Pengxin International Group Limited made an offer to purchase the 16 North Island farms and applied to the Overseas Investment Office for consent. On 27 January 2012, the Land Information Minister and the Associate Minister of Finance granted consent for
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had inspected the farm on 7 September 2009 (after the video was recorded), and had destroyed many of the calves, as had the staff of the farm, but had allowed the farming to continue. Hickey attributed the lack of animal welfare to bad training of staff and poor management and the pressures of the
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campaign. They identified dairy farms as a major factor in polluting the waterways, with one cow causing as much pollution as fourteen humans. The
Crafars first prosecution for discharging dairy effluent into waterways came in 2001 when Valley View Ltd, of which Mr Crafar is a director was fined $
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that its investigations were not complete and that it was too early to say if prosecutions for offences involving animal cruelty would be laid. A MAF spokesman said that the investigation was taking time due to the need to assess ownership, control and responsibility for animal welfare within the
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for unlawfully discharging stock effluent. In August 2008, Ian Balme the chair of
Environment Waikato's regulatory committee described the Crafar family as "the poster boys for dirty dairying", whose "track record suggests they consider public waterways a perfectly appropriate place to tip their
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four years later. In 1973 Allan met Beth on a blind date and they started working on Frank's farm. By July 1979, Allan and Frank Crafar had gone from milking 140 cows through an old-style walk through bale cowshed, to 400 cows using the same system after adding a 366-acre leased block in 1978.
55:. They began their expansion by buying the neighbours farm the next year and by 1999 had 6,000 cattle on numerous farms around New Zealand. In 2009 they owned 22 farms, 18 of which are dairy, and 20,000 cows, making them New Zealand's largest family owned dairy business.
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In 2007 two further prosecutions were brought against the CraFarms. Plateau Farms at
Reporoa was fined $ 35,000 for unlawfully discharged dairy effluent onto land. Te Pohue Ltd was fined $ 13,000 for discharging dairy effluent into a tributary of the
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for animal neglect after a video was released on YouTube showing calves starving on one of their farms. In October 2009 after they could no longer service the mounting debt the farms were placed into receivership. In 2010 the
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Plains was fined $ 37,500 for an illegal discharge of dairy effluent. This was the largest fine to date for a single prosecution, with the Judge saying it was necessary to send a deterrent to the Crafar group of companies.
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13,000 for an unlawful discharge of effluent on to land where it could enter waterways. According to Allan Crafar, from 2003 new compliance codes were implemented that caught out many farmers including the Crafars.
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set aside the decision and ordered the Government to consider the application again after a judicial review requested by the Crafar Farms Purchase Group. On 20 April 2012, Land Information Minister
109:. In the second case Allan Crafar was also personally fined $ 5,000, while the farm sharemilker was fined $ 2,000. The next year a fourth prosecution was upheld when the Taharua Ltd farm on the
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complex relationships of the Crafar Farms group. In June 2011, five people involved with Crafers Taharua Dairy Farm pleaded not guilty to 714 charges of alleged animal welfare offences.
216:. In December 2010, acting on the recommendation of the Overseas Investment Office, the Government decided not to approve Natural Dairy NZ's application to buy 16 farms from receivers.
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The company Natural Dairy (NZ) Holdings, which previously had been known as the China Jin Hui Mining Corporation, agreed to buy the Crafar family farms pending approval of the
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Production had increased by 28,000 kg annually and their large herd averaged one kilo of fat per day. In 1981 Frank, Allan and Beth brought their first farm together in
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had exaggerated the problems and its inspectors had no understanding of farming. He said; "They've never milked a cow in their lives and never got their hands dirty".
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Finance, were owed about $ NZ200 million, and had placed Crafar Farms into receivership as it was in breach of the covenants of the loans. The Crafars say that the
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On 5 October 2009 Crafar Farms had been placed into receivership by its lenders and that Michael Stiassny and Brendon Gibson had been appointed as receivers. The
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approved a revised report from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) and granted permission for Milk New Zealand Holding Limited to buy the 16 Crafar farms.
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feeding, underweight animals, and lack of shelter for calves. On five Crafar farms 50 cows had to be put down. Allan Crafar was reported as saying
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Shanghai Pengxin Group Co. Limited to buy the 16 Crafar farms via their subsidiary Milk New Zealand Holding Limited. On 15 February 2012 the
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admits 'concerns' about the sale of land to overseas interests, and the Chinese company objected to a (lower) bid by government-owned
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Farm Ltd, Allan Crafar and Frank Crafar of $ 29,500 each, and Elizabeth Crafar was fined $ 1500, for a total fine of $ 90,000.
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42:. Their father died when Allan was 11 and he had to hand milk their single cow. Frank left school at 14 and started his first
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located at Crafar Farms Hillside Farm. Following criticism of the Crafars in the media a Facebook page was set up by
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posted a video onto YouTube showing dehydrated calves starving on Crafar Farms' Benneydale dairy farm between
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started the public campaign for cleaner waterways downstream of dairy farms that later became known as the
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763:(Press release). David Carter, Minister of Agriculture, New Zealand Government. 30 September 2009
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On 7 June 2010, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry informed the
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472:"Exclusive: NZ's biggest dairy farmer allows calves to starve to death (Update 6)"
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job at 16. Frank, along with his other brother Neville, brought a farm in the
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1132:"Ministers approve Milk New Zealand application for the Crafar farms"
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1054:"Ministers turn down Natural Dairy application to buy Crafar farms"
1184:"Tiroa and Te Hape B Trusts v Chief Executive of Land Information"
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415:"Fonterra's five biggest challenges: Part V – "Dirty Dairying""
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During the 2000s CraFarms was prosecuted multiple times in the
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Crafar's extensive debts incurred to expand the Crafar Farms.
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761:"Beehive – Minister orders wider inspection of Crafar farms"
636:(Press release). Hawkes Bay Regional Council. 1 August 2008
976:"Chinese company targets Crafar farms, other dairy assets"
682:"Scoop: Fines show intolerance of environmental offending"
1056:(Press release). New Zealand Government. 22 December 2010
783:"Major animal welfare issues on Crafar farms, says MAF"
1216:(Press release). New Zealand Government. 20 April 2012
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Colin Wiliscroft and Matt Nippert (15 February 2012).
1077:"Crafar farm bidder withdraws, new offer on the table"
1003:"PM admits 'concern' about the sale of Crafar Farms"
684:(Press release). Environment Waikato. 29 August 2009
498:"Crafar Farms put into receivership owing NZ$ 200m"
393:"Crafar Farms put into receivership owing NZ$ 200m"
38:Allan and Frank Crafar are brothers who grew up in
898:"Animal welfare charges laid against Crafar farms"
524:"Iwi livid after Crafar cows harm historic site"
731:"Dairy giant allowed calves to starve to death"
344:"Sour taste for family driven out of dairying"
149:the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
703:Leaman, Aaron; Neems, Jeff (29 August 2009).
8:
871:"MAF charges in Crafar animal welfare case"
362:"Brothers have an old shed – but new ideas"
302:"This is not a firesale – Crafar receivers"
135:On 29 September 2009, business journalist
1159:"Court orders govt to review Crafar sale"
810:"More cow neglect on Crafar family farms"
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551:"Crafar Facebook campaign gathers steam"
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446:"Dirty dairying has no place here in NZ"
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271:"Allan Crafar intent on cleaning up act"
705:"Acting 'too late' costs farmers $ 90k"
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1112:. New Zealand Government Press Release
847:. Fairfax Media NZ Ltd. Archived from
729:Hickey, Bernard (29 September 2009).
578:"Workers blamed for 'dirty dairying'"
470:Hickey, Bernard (28 September 2009).
408:
406:
7:
1214:"Ministers approve Crafar farms bid"
1110:"Ministers approve Crafar farms bid"
1075:Nordqvist, Susie (27 January 2011).
925:"Not guilty pleas to dairy charges"
75:were angered after stock damaged a
576:Taylor, Cherie (31 October 2006).
496:Hickey, Bernard (5 October 2009).
25:
841:"Crafar to defend cruelty claims"
549:Susie Nordqvist (22 April 2010).
391:Bernard Hickey (5 October 2009).
342:Matt Nipper (13 September 2009).
300:NBR staff/NZPA (5 October 2009).
269:Tacon, Terry (19 November 2007).
1029:"outrage at Landcorp's farm bid"
1001:Hartevelt, John (7 March 2010).
952:(Press release). Press Release:
368:. 7 October 1979. Archived from
808:Wood, Simon (10 October 2009).
228:and Associate Finance Minister
950:"Crafar Farms in Receivership"
896:Andrea Fox (14 January 2011).
413:Swann, Allan (13 March 2009).
275:The New Zealand Farmers Weekly
1:
923:Watson, Mike (30 June 2011).
839:Sharpe, Marty (7 June 2010).
444:Balme, Ian (19 August 2008).
1247:Dairy farming in New Zealand
1163:The National Business Review
1136:Land Information New Zealand
1027:Fox, Andrea (26 June 2010).
655:Neems, Jeff (22 July 2009).
604:"$ 35,000 dairy fine upheld"
522:Kelly Loney (16 June 2010).
419:The National Business Review
306:The National Business Review
247:Dairy farming in New Zealand
657:"Farm manure charges stick"
634:"Record Environmental Fine"
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602:NZPA (26 September 2007).
242:Agriculture in New Zealand
206:Overseas Investment Office
904:. Fairfax New Zealand Ltd
366:Manawatu Evening Standard
119:National Business Review
1188:CIV-2012-485-101 / 2011
122:Four months later, the
1081:The New Zealand Herald
875:The New Zealand Herald
787:The New Zealand Herald
735:The New Zealand Herald
608:The New Zealand Herald
557:. APN News & Media
555:The New Zealand Herald
530:. Fairfax Media NZ Ltd
502:The New Zealand Herald
397:The New Zealand Herald
348:The New Zealand Herald
1192:Courts of New Zealand
172:Receivership and sale
147:. Hickey stated that
94:Fish and Game Council
1242:Farms in New Zealand
1252:Dairy organizations
1108:(27 January 2012).
929:Taranaki Daily News
820:on 23 February 2013
528:Taranaki Daily News
117:In March 2009, the
88:Effluent discharges
1194:. 15 February 2012
1106:Maurice Williamson
582:Rotorua Daily Post
425:on 11 October 2009
226:Maurice Williamson
196:and a drop in the
178:New Zealand Herald
1138:. 27 January 2012
1033:The Dominion Post
1007:The Dominion Post
980:Otago Daily Times
877:. 14 January 2011
845:The Dominion Post
814:The Dominion Post
448:. Fairfax NZ News
312:on 8 October 2009
208:. Prime Minister
124:Environment Court
60:Environment Court
16:(Redirected from
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1102:Jonathan Coleman
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474:. Interest.co.nz
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230:Jonathan Coleman
84:lot of people."
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982:. 25 March 2010
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741:on 4 March 2016
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180:reported that
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137:Bernard Hickey
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131:Animal welfare
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98:dirty dairying
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849:the original
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612:the original
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423:the original
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370:the original
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279:the original
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201:their debt.
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70:Ngāti Ruanui
57:
44:sharemilking
37:
27:
26:
18:Crafar Farms
1198:18 February
1168:15 February
1060:23 December
954:KordaMentha
1236:Categories
1142:27 January
1116:27 January
1086:27 January
908:15 January
881:15 January
253:References
222:High Court
111:Rangitaiki
1038:16 August
1012:16 August
194:recession
107:Esk River
40:Whanganui
1220:20 April
561:30 April
478:6 August
376:30 April
316:30 April
236:See also
214:Landcorp
210:John Key
198:Fonterra
186:Rabobank
145:Te Kūiti
48:Manawatu
28:CraFarms
934:30 June
534:17 June
182:Westpac
141:Tokoroa
53:Reporoa
34:History
986:27 May
960:29 May
855:7 June
824:3 June
793:27 May
767:28 May
745:31 May
714:31 May
688:27 May
666:31 May
640:27 May
618:28 May
587:31 May
507:27 May
452:4 July
429:28 May
285:28 May
81:Oamaru
902:Stuff
1222:2012
1200:2012
1170:2012
1144:2012
1118:2012
1088:2011
1062:2010
1040:2010
1014:2010
988:2010
962:2010
936:2011
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