A Canterbury farm previously found to be exploiting volunteer labour is being investigated by the SPCA over the living conditions of its animals.

Robinwood Farms in Tai Tapu, about 16 kilometres southwest of Christchurch, exploited thousands of young travellers who volunteered in exchange for food and accommodation at the "organic farm", owned by Julia Osselton.

The property has been visited at least three times by the SPCA, who on Tuesday delivered a notice ordering those looking after the animals to take steps to reduce their suffering. It is understood water and shelter for the pigs is the SPCA's main concern. There were also chickens and a goat visible on the farm.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF SPCA Inspectors tend to a pig on Julia Osselton's Tai Tapu farm.

Stuff was there when the SPCA returned with a vet on Wednesday. Staff spent over 90 minutes on the property, primarily tending to the pigs. They changed into protective clothing before checking the pigs and moving them from their muddy pen to some nearby grass.

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Staff also spent time talking to a woman who was in the house, thought to be Osselton's mother. Stuff was asked to leave the property when they approached her for comment.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Chickens and pigs roam around Robinwood Farm during the SPCA inspectors visit on Wednesday.

An SPCA spokeswoman said the charity was working with the property owner over some animal welfare issues, including trying to "improve the living conditions for a range of livestock and other animals" to ensure they met the Animal Welfare Act.

"We will continue to visit, monitor and work with the owner until we are satisfied that these conditions are met."

She said inspectors had a range of powers including educating, issuing notices, confiscating animals and, in serious cases, taking the owners to court.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF SPCA Inspectors check conditions of the pig pen at Robinwood Farm.

It is not known how long the issues have been going on for, but in an anonymous review of Robinwood Farms on jobs website Glassdoor from December 2016, a worker said the animals "were not getting enough food".

"PLEASE feed your pigs more! They seemed severely malnourished and in pretty bad shape," the review said.

In December, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ordered Robinwood Farms to backpay two former employees a combined $5279.80 plus interest at 5 per cent per annum. Penalties are yet to be decided, but Labour Inspectorate national manager Stu Lumsden previously said the farm could still be liable for up to $20,000 per employee per breach.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF SPCA Inspectors speak to a woman, thought to be Julia Osselton's mother, on Robinwood Farm on Wednesday.

Previous workers provided evidence to the ERA that they worked up to 40 hours a week for food, accommodation and $120 pay, regardless of how many hours they worked. Living conditions were described as inhumane, with workers fed spoilt meat and food from supermarket waste bins, and some workers sleeping in an unventilated, unheated storage room under the stairs.

The ERA finding said Osselton relied heavily on unpaid workers, mostly from overseas, who were recruited online. She had told a labour inspector that more than 1000 people had worked on her properties in exchange for food and accommodation. Workers would often cut firewood or garden for Osselton's other businesses.

Osselton has been involved in another ERA case with her other company, Karamea Holiday Homes, now in liquidation. Karamea Holiday Homes agreed to pay a Spanish worker more than $20,000 in April 2017.



Osselton has been approached for comment.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF It's understood the SPCA is concerned about shelter and water for the pigs on Robinwood Farm.

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF SPCA inspectors deliver the Animal Welfare Section 130 notice relating to animal suffering at Julia Osselton's organic farm in Tai Tapu on Tuesday.

WESTPORT NEWS Julia Osselton, centre, with rescuers in 2007, after surviving a 60-metre fall off a cliff on the West Coast.