Former dairy executive sentenced after receiving over $300k in kickbacks

A former Open Country Dairy executive has been sentenced to 12 months home detention after accepting nearly $320,000 in gifts from an overseas customer. Open Country Dairy group market manager Simon Stewart <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/21/former-dairy-exec-charged-for-allegedly-receiving-270k-in-kickbacks/">received the money from Indonesian-based customer Anta Tirta Kirana</a> in exchange for information and advice relating to the sales of dairy products. Stewart revealed information about sensitive business that influenced pricing negotiations and dealings between Open Country Dairy and Anta Tirta Kirana. In July, <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/15/dairy-executive-took-276k-in-secret-payments-for-pricing-information/">he pleaded guilty to one charge of accepting a gift by an agent</a> under section four of the Secret Commissions Act. There were 27 bank transactions made by Anta Tirta Kirana to Stewart between April 1, 2019 and October 10 2023, each ranging between $6980 and $22,767. Stewart also received the NZ equivalent of $43,000 in foreign cash.