A Putaruru man has been fined $20,000 for burning tyres on his property on two separate occasions.
The Fire Service was called on the first occasion in September last year and told Bruce Leonard to stop.
He refused and became rude and agressive towards staff.
Nine days later, a member of the public called the council to report more tyres were being burnt.
When council inspectors arrived, they saw the remnants of about 30 burnt tyres.
During Leonard's sentencing at the Hamilton District Court, Judge Melanie Harland described his attitude to the firefighters as completely unacceptable, rude and arrogant.
Leonard was fined a total of $20,306 and ordered to pay costs and fees totalling $486.
The Waikato Regional Council says tyre burning is a major concern as it discharges cancer-causing dioxins into the air.
