25 Sep 2023

Mac Group ordered to pay $141,000 after worker injured, then pressured to lie

8:25 pm on 25 September 2023
Auckland court coat of arms.

Mac Group and JNP Construction were sentenced in the Auckland District Court. Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

Construction company Mac Group has been ordered to pay $141,000 after a worker was badly injured - then pressured to lie to WorkSafe.

Mosese Foketi was employed to do waste removal, but was involved in demolishing a wall, which collapsed and trapped him under a large slab of clay blocks and mortar in September 2021.

Foketi suffered multiple injuries, leaving him in constant pain and unable to work.

WorkSafe said he was pressured to say that he was not doing demolition work.

Mac Group, which oversaw the demolition, and labour hire company JNP Construction, were both sentenced today in the Auckland District Court.

JNP Construction was fined $6000.