MP’S son overwhelmed while his cows suffered in pain
A National MP urged her son to seek help as the condition of animals on his dairy farm deteriorated.
But her son was too broken to turn the situation around, Taranaki King Country MP Barbara Kuriger says.
Tony Michael Kuriger was convicted in the Palmerston North District Court on Friday for failing to properly treat 74 lame cows on a northern Wairarapa farm between October 2016 and April 2017.
He was ordered to pay vet and other costs of $4060 and is free to continue owning and controlling animals.
According to court documents released to Stuff, Barbara Kuriger supported her son’s failed application for a discharge without conviction and said in a court affidavit she encouraged him to seek help under the Early Response Scheme.
The scheme is available to support farmers whenever concerns are raised about the wellbeing of their livestock.
When a call is received, a professional visits the farm to check the welfare of the animals and the farmer.
Barbara Kuriger said she ‘‘actively encouraged’’ her son to use the service when she discovered the landowner was refusing to rectify poor yards and tracks on the property.
Tony was distraught about the situation and would call his father in tears about the condition of the animals.
The family reported the problems, but an investigation found Tony Kuriger should have acted quicker than he did.
He pleaded guilty on day two of his trial.
Barbara Kuriger said her son should have dodged a conviction, because it would deter other struggling young farmers from seeking help. ‘‘I am worried that lives of quiet desperation and despair will result in further suicides.’’
Tony Kuriger was facing other pressures too, his wife Tegan said.
His ex-wife had told him she wanted to move out of the district with two of his children.
About the same time, his farm manager resigned. Another worker was promoted, but they were unable to cope and also left the farm. Meanwhile, the condition of the cows deteriorated.
Tegan, a registered nurse, said she sought emergency treatment for her husband on more than one occasion. ‘‘When I first became involved with him he was a chronic insomniac and suffered regular panic attacks.
She feared the Crown would be successful in its pursuit of a livestock ban, meaning her husband would lose his sharemilking position and become unemployed.
‘‘The idea he would ever intend to mistreat an animal is laughable. There is no prospect that I can earn enough money to manage the debts we have accumulated.’’
‘‘Everybody failed the animals. Nobody has taken responsibility for their part of this failure, apart from Tony.’’