TECT All Terrain Park ranger Jarron McInnes is back on the job after an ERA victory

A park ranger who was sacked after an altercation with some rowdy freedom campers has won a major victory in the fight to get his job back.

The Employment Relations Authority has ruled that Jarron McInnes has a case for unjustified dismissal from his role as ranger at TECT All Terrain Park in the Bay of Plenty and has ordered he be reinstated until a full hearing of his case.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council, which operates the park, dismissed him after the incident on January 12, in which a French freedom camper ended up in hospital with gashes to the head.

SUPPLIED French visitor David Le Prunennec after his scuffle with TECT park ranger Jarron McInnes.

McInnes, who had spent seven years helping build the park into a world-class facility for tramping, mountain biking and numerous other activities, confronted the group as they were drinking and listening to music by the arrival centre late at night.

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SUPPLIED Someone placed a sign in the window of Western Bay of Plenty District Council demanding Jarron McInnes be reinstated

He claims one of them grabbed him by the throat and pushed him to the ground and others held him down while he was assaulted. He says he hit the tourist on the head with his torch to get him off.

The tourist, David Le Prunennec, claims the assault with the torch was unprovoked. Police were called but no charges were laid.

McInnes was sacked for breaching council policies and wounding a park visitor, sparking protests from people who felt he'd been unfairly treated. Hundreds of people signed a petition demanding his reinstatement.

McInnes and his family have remained in the ranger's house since the incident.

In her decision, ERA member Eleanor Robinson said there were a number of flaws in the council's investigation. It had not considered McInnes' version of events including his consistent statements that he was the victim.

The council had demanded that he provide a written statement of what happened by 2pm the day after the altercation, when he was still emotional and distressed, and didn't advise him to seek legal advice.

Robinson also noted council chief executive Miriam Taris had approved the sacking despite not attending any of the disciplinary meetings. The council announced on its Facebook page that McInnes was to be dismissed before the final decision had even been made.

The council's deputy CEO, Gary Allis​, told the authority he had "lost trust and confidence" in McInnes and was concerned that other staff members at the park would resign if he was reinstated.

Reinstating him would create an "unmanageable burden" as the council would then have to suspend him until the full hearing and appoint a temporary ranger in separate accommodation.

But Robinson said McInnes had learned from his mistaken handling of the incident, was ready and willing to resume his duties and there was "potential for the employment relationship to be re-established successfully".

McInnes has also claimed that the council failed to ensure his safety at work.

He said in his evidence there had been a marked increase in freedom campers using the site since December, with up to 40 campers a night.

He had started keeping a log, believing the council would need to review its infrastructure as there were not sufficient facilities.

He said people knocked on his door at all hours of the night, his communications were intermittent and he did not have immediate backup.

McInnes declined to comment on the decision. A council spokesman said it had lodged an appeal in the Employment Court and the matter was scheduled to be heard next month.