A former policeman and brother of TV personality Lana Coc-Kroft has won a personal grievance case against a company previously owned by TV's Lion Man.
The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found in favour of Nicholas Tennile Coc-Kroft, who claimed unjustifiable constructive dismissal against Zion Wildlife Gardens.
Zion, which operates a Northland wildlife animal park, had to pay him more than $13,000.
Mr Coc-Kroft initially arrived at Zion in February 2005 to support his friend Craig Busch, best known as TV's Lion Man, the operators of Zion at the time.
His role evolved into an employment where he performed duties as park manager and was paid $914 weekly from March 2005.
His duties included taking visitor tours around the park, supervising volunteers and other tour guides, helping Mr Busch with big cat encounters and hand-raising new cubs.
The terms of his employment were not recorded in a written individual employment agreement.
In March 2006, Mr Coc-Kroft gave up his role as park manager because he said he did not have any say in the management of the park.
He felt safety concerns he had raised were ignored.
He referred to himself from that point as senior big cat handler.
In June 2006, Mr Busch's mother Patricia Busch took ownership and control of Zion, introducing changes in management and operation.
The relationship between Mr Coc-Kroft and Mrs Busch deteriorated.
Mrs Busch wrote to Mr Coc-Kroft accusing him of "bullying, aggression, argumentativeness and intimidation".
He had failed to start tours on time and was accused of careless use of park plant and equipment, among other things, she said.
In late 2006, Mr Coc-Kroft found that he was being excluded from doing tiger walks, cub encounters and big cat tours.
He went on leave and while on leave was paid a reduced amount of pay. Mrs Busch informed him he had no leave entitlements left. He also learned he had not been paid for statutory holidays.
After Mr Coc-Kroft sought legal advice his lawyer wrote to Mrs Busch suggesting mediation, but she wrote back accusing him of undermining staff morale.
Mr Coc-Kroft took leave in late March 2007 due to "workplace stress". When he returned to work on April 16, he was directed to mow lawns, weed, and clean toilets.
One of his jobs was to cut gorse with secateurs .
M ediation failed, and Mr Coc-Kroft said he wished to pursue a personal grievance for "unjustifiable action resulting in disadvantage".
The ERA found Mr Coc-Kroft had a personal grievance for unjustifiable constructive dismissal and was "entitled to formal orders in settlement of that personal grievance".
It also said there was evidence that others found him unpleasant to work with , which was blameworthy conduct and he should not be allowed to benefit for his own wrong-doing.
The ERA assessed his contribution to his own problems as 20 percent and reduced the award to him in that proportion.
The Authority ordered Zion to pay to Mr Coc-Kroft the sum of $6720 nett and $6400 as compensation.
There was no order for costs.
