Fined again for flouting Covid rules

A Christchurch restaurant now owes $44,000 after continued Covid19 rule breaking.

Lotus-Heart vegetarian restaurant’s recent conduct has landed it four fines totalling $24,000 – on top of the $20,000 it already owes for not displaying a QR code or vaccine pass signage, and having no processes in place to check patrons’ vaccine passes.

‘‘Lotus Heart has been issued further infringement notices,’’ a WorkSafe spokesperson said.

The new fines are for not having effective systems in place to check vaccine passes, not displaying signage indicating whether the business is checking vaccine passes, not ensuring a QR code was displayed in a prominent place, and for not ensuring a QR code is displayed at the entrance, they said.

The Press reported the restaurant reopened last week and was continuing to break Covid-19 rules. There were no QR code posters, vaccine pass requirements or mask wearing when a diner attended the restaurant Tuesday.

WorkSafe revisited the St Asaph St restaurant last Friday.

It’s understood restaurant staff tried to obstruct inspectors doing their jobs on multiple occasions.

The Press first revealed the restaurant’s potential breaches in October. Earlier this month, a WorkSafe spokesperson said inspectors would revisit the restaurant and, if it was still noncompliant, more fines, prosecution and closure of the business for up to 24 hours were possible. The restaurant has until mid-February to pay its first $20,000 worth of fines and until early March to pay the latest $24,000. WorkSafe can issue reminders or extensions at any time.

The business has the right, within 28 days of the infringement notice, to request a hearing with WorkSafe or the court.

An infringement notice may be withdrawn after a hearing.

Lotus-Heart owner Bhuvah Thurston has been unwilling to engage with WorkSafe or change her business’ practices, which the regulator previously said was the main reason for the restaurant being fined.

Because it is still operating as a dine-in restaurant, all staff must be vaccinated. Thurston had failed to provide evidence on this matter.

The number of New Zealand businesses not following the rules was a ‘‘very small minority’’, WorkSafe head of general inspectorate Simon Humphries said. Six businesses had been collectively fined $164,000 for breaching Covid-19 rules since December last year.