Vet claims inquiry puts parties in clear

An investigation into a Southland farm and Waiheke vet practice at the centre of allegations over the mycoplasma bovis outbreak is over, sources say.

Waiheke-based New Zealand Vet Direct Ltd owner Steve Taylor says both businesses are in the clear. The Ministry of Primary Industries is yet to comment.

MPI was due to announce the completion of its probe last week.

understands it hasn’t found evidence the farmer or the vet were responsible for the outbreak.

But officials held off making the decision public when they learned the Veterinary Council of New Zealand was now also investigating a complaint.

Southern Centre Dairies Ltd, owned by Alfons and Gea Zeestraten near Winton, was believed to be one of the first properties infected with the cattle disease. The farm was a client of Taylor’s firm – which undercuts traditional veterinary practices by suppling cut-price drugs. Both businesses came under the scrutiny of MPI investigators earlier this year.

Taylor said one of the investi- gators rang him last week to say their work was complete.

‘‘MPI rang me last Monday or Tuesday and said they needed to talk to me before 10am because we are putting out a press release that says we know the farms down south and you guys, vets on Waiheke, we have investigated and are all in the clear. I’ve looked and looked for a week and it didn’t turn up.’’

Stuff has confirmed with another source that MPI had drafted a press release. But when the Vet Council investigation came to light in a meeting between the Ministry and the regulator that was put on hold. Investigations into other possible sources of the outbreak are still ongoing.

The Vet Council says their investigations can take up to nine months.

Chief executive Sean McKinley said it was policy not to identify individuals under investigation. But he did say the council was ‘‘investigating a complaint about ‘long distance’ veterinary care’’.

A notice sent to members advising of the inquiry noted: ‘‘‘Long distance’ veterinary care is not illegal. There is no legal requirement for a farm or any client to be visited by a veterinarian a minimum number of times per year.’’

Stuff has seen the complaint – which came from a Southland vet.