Woolworths NZ has pleaded guilty to a charge following a rat infestation at its Dunedin store during late 2023 and early 2024.
Woolworths NZ faced charges in September from New Zealand Food Safety following what NZFS described as a “thorough investigation into rodent activity.”
The charge brought against Woolworths New Zealand Limited falls under the Food Act 2014.
It carries a maximum penalty of $200,000.
Woolworths pleaded guilty to the charge during its first appearance in the Dunedin District Court. Sentencing is scheduled for March.
The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed Woolworths’ guilty plea.
“Food safety is our top priority, so we welcome Woolworths’ guilty plea to the charge of failing to ensure a significant rodent infestation was promptly identified and escalated as required by its food control plan.”
Countdown Dunedin South, as it was called then, ceased operations on February 9, 2024, after the supermarket chain had been working to eradicate rodents from the store since the previous October.
Although the store was initially planned to close for 48 hours, its reopening was postponed multiple times due to further rodent sightings.
By February 10, more than twenty rats had been captured inside the store.
The store had to stay closed for 48 hours after the most recent rodent sighting or capture, as authorised by NZFS.
Consequently, each attempt to reopen was postponed due to new sightings or discoveries.
On February 28, following almost three weeks of closure, the store reopened.