A New Zealand medicinal cannabis firm, part-owned by Kind Medical parent Altum International, has been ordered to pay its former technical officer NZ$240,000 after he went without a salary for almost two years.
Kariki Pharma failed to pay wages to Alexis Lopez in July 2020 and from November 2020 until he resigned in July 2022, a tribunal ruled. It also failed to pay holiday or Kiwisaver entitlements.
At an Employment Relations Authority judgement last week, Kariki was ordered to pay Lopez $193,153 in wages, $13,939 holiday pay, $5,936 in Kiwisaver contributions and $20,000 in compensation for “hurt and humiliation”.
The company was also told to pay a penalty of $10,000, 75% of which will go to Lopez.
In the event of Kariki being unable to pay, Lopez has leave to pursue four directors named in proceedings for the money, which include Altum chief executive Ean Alexander. The other three were Alexandra Seton, Paul Seton and Andrew Steadson
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