New Zealand / Waikato

Chemical scare at Fonterra plant

09:58 am on 30 December 2016

Part of Fonterra's factory in the Waikato was momentarily shut down this morning after a chemical scare.

A Fonterra spokeswoman said no-one was injured. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

The Fire Service was called to Fonterra Hautapu at 3.20am after a high pressure air hose broke in a service tunnel.

Thirty-five firefighters and the hazardous material unit attended.

Shift manager Jaron Phillips said no gas was found. Crews would determine the damage.

A Fonterra spokeswoman said the eastern side of the plant was shut.

No-one was injured and staff were working with the fire crews to find out why it broke.

In August, there was a chemical spill at Fonterra's plant in Edendale, Southland.

About 5000 litres of nitric acid and a caustic alkali spilled from storage tanks into a containment area.

WorkSafe investigated after a milk silo collapse at the Southland plant weeks later.