A polluting Waikato pig farm has been handed a record half a million dollar fine

Rawhiti Environmental Park persistently discharged raw piggery effluent into the environment between February and October 2023.

It's been convicted on eight charges, and given the largest single fine imposed under the Resource Management Act's 34-years.

The Regional Council says during 26 inspections it found effluent flowing off adjacent land, into Patuwhao and Hotahika streams, then Waihou River.

It says stream users were seriously affected, and regularly didn't have water for drinking or stock.