Three migrant workers have described their time working at a North Island holiday park as "like a nightmare", saying it felt like living in a prison.
The Golden Springs Holiday Park is based in Reporoa and its owner, Shenshen Guan, has now been fined and banned from employing anyone for 18 months. The Labour Inspectorate says the case has all the hallmarks of human trafficking but Guan claims she's done nothing wrong.
"I want to say, this whole thing for me is really shocking and ridiculous," Guan told Newshub.
She and her company were fined more than $680,000 for what happened at the holiday park.
"I didn't do anything wrong," she said.
The Employment Court heard workers had to pay Guan a bond and worked for free. One said it was so bad they "wanted to die".
When asked why people would say it was "like a nightmare" and living in a prison working for her, Guan said it was "because they need to try and make a story to pretend themselves [that they are] poor people".
But those excuses don't wash with authorities.
"It's abhorrent," said Stu Lumsden, national manager of the Labour Inspectorate. "We are talking about three people who were totally exploited. We're talking about people who have taken out huge loans, mortgaged themselves, people who have actually taken their children's university money to pay for a job which is illegal in itself."
One woman, a solo mum who asked not to be identified, was one of the workers who borrowed money for a $45,000 bond to pay Guan before arriving here from China.
"It was like a nightmare in my life, and also for my daughter," the woman said. "For both of us it was a nightmare."
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Guan claims the payment was for two years' rent.
But this worker rejects that - saying her movements were restricted and she didn't get a day off.
"She used me not only for money but also [for] free labour."
She says she did the cleaning, and was even instructed to clean the thermal river at the park.
"To dig all the dirt from the bottom of the river and put the dirt on the bank."
Now, she's urging others to speak up if they're been exploited.
"Otherwise, if we always keep silent, we will cultivate this kind of illegal and evil behaviour," she said.
Guan has been given 28 days to pay her fines, but told Newshub she'll be appealing the court's decision.
