A Hamilton chemical cleaning company has been convicted and fined $39,000 for a toxic discharge which created a ‘significant fish kill event' in Paeroa last year.

Appearing in the Auckland District Court this week, Chemwash Hamilton Limited was convicted of discharging toxic chemicals through the Hauraki town's stormwater system into a local stream which killed a large number of eels and native banded kokopu fish in February 2016.

Waikato Regional Council investigations manager Patrick Lynch says any company dealing with acutely toxic chemicals should have 'exemplary measures” in place to manage the risk to the environment.

'This was a completely avoidable incident. We are extremely disappointed with the actions of Chemwash and trust this fine will remind all users of chemicals to ensure that they are managed properly.”

Some of the banded kokopu killed by the toxic chemicals discharged by Chemical cleaning company Chemwash Hamilton Limited

Local residents noticed a large number of distressed and dead eels and fish in a tributary flowing into the Ohinemuri River and notified the Waikato Regional Council, whose incident response team traced the contamination back to a retirement village having its roof stripped for repainting.

The subsequent investigation found Chemwash had completed the work at the retirement village without capturing the chemicals they were using or managing them in an environmentally safe manner.

Auckland District Court Judge David Fitzpatrick stated the company's activities were 'at least reckless”, and the steps they had taken to protect against a discharge into the environment were 'completely inadequate”.

Patrick would like to acknowledge the quick actions of several Paeroa locals who attempted to save some of the dying fish and contacted the council promptly.

A culvert discharging toxic chemicals into a small waterway in Paeroa.