Yealands risks NZ wine reputation

wide-ranging suppression order against the company in July, as details of the case began to emerge.

The offending took place before a controlling stake in Yealands Estate was sold to Marlborough Lines in mid-2015.

Marlborough Lines is owned by a trust, which is ultimately owned by anyone in Marlborough who buys electricity.

Chairman David Dew refused to comment yesterday. ‘‘Now is not the time to talk.’’

Gary Orr, head of investigations for the Ministry of Primary Industries, said at no time was there any risk to public health from the episode.

But Orr said the actions by the group put the reputation of the industry at risk.

‘‘This is unacceptable offending. It was deliberate deceit, designed to hide the offending from the regulator.’’

Yealands Estate said in a statement that the offending took place under former ownership and it had taken steps to ensure it did not happen again.

Rachael Reed, a lawyer for Peter Yealands, said her client took responsibility for what happened, although she described the provision under which he had been charged as ‘‘obscure’’.

Kelly and Fyfe quickly left court after sentencing. Both have refused to comment.

Stuart Smith, MP for Kaiko¯ura, said it was ‘‘very disappointing’’ that the Marlborough and national industry’s reputation had been put at risk.

‘‘I think it’s a small risk but it’s a risk nonetheless,’’ he said.

‘‘This is a product that lives and dies by its reputation, and it should be a reputation for honesty and good practice.’’