Sunday ` brought to you by Mazda. Tonight on Sunday ` the fight for the environment which turned ugly. I think there's so much money involved. The new gold rush in the wild north. Did it get ugly at times? There were times when I came with the police. And the brutal attack... I thought I was lucky to be alive. ...which left him blinded. I didn't know if I was going to see again. It was horrific. This is about to get real. And Mexico's festival of fireworks. No rules. No regulations. Fireworks are... are an interactive sport. Copyright Able 2014 When Mike Nager had chemicals thrown in his face, he was blinded. But he says he immediately knew why. He was being threatened, told to back off, because, he says, he was doing his job. You see, Mike Nager was an environment officer for the Northland Regional Council. His job ` to enforce the law. And that's exactly what he was doing when he was attacked. But now, after his terrifying ordeal, the people who you'd think would have his back have sacked him. Really terrifying. I've never been that scared ever. Mike Nager will never forget the morning last June, when, he says, he was attacked on his way to court. I was driving south towards Whangarei, and a car came up behind me, flashing its lights. Thinking something was wrong with his vehicle, Mike Nager says he pulled over. When I got out of my ute, I had a substance thrown in my eyes. It was like bleach or something similar to that. I had a guy grab me. He held a knife against my face. He told me to stay away. He dragged the knife down my face, punched me to the ground, took my wallet and my cell phone, and then just drove off. Did you get a look at him? Did you get a look at him? No. It was just too fast. The chemical attack left him in hospital. I didn't even know if I was gonna see again. It was horrific. My eyes were just burning. My face was burning. I thought I was actually lucky to be alive. When that knife was against my face, I thought he was gonna cut my throat. Why do you think that attack occurred? Someone tried to stop me going to give evidence in court. I'm sure of it. It's nearly a year since Mike Nager was seriously assaulted, and we still don't know who was responsible. But what we do know is that on that day he was going to court to prosecute two companies that were illegally draining the largest wetland in Northland. And I'm on my way to find out what was going on. This is the Kaimaumau wetland ` 4000ha of swamp, north of Kaitaia. Why are they significant? They've got a whole lot of endangered orchids and other plants ` nationally threatened. You know, some of them only grow here, from what I understand. But it's the treasure beneath this land that's been causing all the trouble. Three years ago environment officer Mike Nager caught two companies digging here without the right permits and told them to stop. They continued to work, and we went to the Environment Court and got an enforcement order, which is basically a court order saying 'stop work'. Gary Beckham is the owner of one of those companies. He argues there'd been a consent to mine there since the '80s. Right from day one, when I first met the man up on the site, he said he was out to get us. But the council said the digging was draining the nearby swamp. And surely they would have stopped at that stage. And surely they would have stopped at that stage. I would have thought so. But, when Mike flew over the swamp a few weeks later, the diggers were still going. So, for a couple of years,... So, for a couple of years,... Yeah. So, for a couple of years,... Yeah. ...they were ignoring the law; ignoring the courts. ignoring the courts. Yeah. That's right. I was doing regular flyovers and taking video of them working. And this is what he caught them doing ` digging huge, ancient kauri logs out of the ground. They're worth a small fortune. There was big machinery ` diggers and bulldozers. And they were ripping into the land. Did it get ugly at times? There were times when I came on with the police. It wasn't that great. There was a fair bit of obstruction there. Um, I've been told stories by other people ` how there were stand-offs out on the roadside with local iwi. how there were stand-offs out on the roadside with local iwi. Who are these guys, then? Um, they're local businessmen. In the north, the swamp kauri business is booming. Farmers, contractors and mills are all cashing in on the increasing demand for this ancient timber. Black gold. Tens of thousands of tons of kauri, worth millions of dollars, stockpiled, ready for export. This stockpile is just one of many. Nelson Parker has been in the swamp kauri business for more than 20 years, but he's never seen it this busy. There was a turning point in around 2010. The last four years, probably more swamp kauri has come out of the ground than any other time in its history. Who's driven that? Uh, a lot of it is because of the Chinese market. I mean, you know, there's no denying that some of our best clients are Chinese. Some of the swamp kauri is being processed by NZ artisans ` adding value, providing jobs. But most of it is exported as unprocessed stumps and slabs by those keen to make a fast buck. Are there cowboys getting into this business? Are there cowboys getting into this business? I think any industry, John, you'll get cowboys. Sadly there has been some situations that have basically put a negative, um, slur on things. Veteran operators like Nelson Parker know there are clear rules around the recovery and export of swamp kauri. But at Kaimaumau wetlands, Gary Beckham and his company were breaking the law ` even though they were working on privately owned land. Why do you think they ignored the law? I don't think they like authority in any way, shape or form. They` They think, 'It's my land. I can do what I like with it.' I think there's just so much money involved in it. There's literally millions of dollars in swamp kauri. Finished product, um, it could be anything up to $10,000 a cube. Gary Beckham says he and his colleagues were frustrated when Mike Nager started ordering them around. We're working away there for a few months, and then, all of a sudden, um, Mike Nager turned up and turned it all off for us. Why didn't you stop when you were told? When, um, the council asked us to stop, they asked us to stop in a certain area. And we were allowed to carry on in other, wattle-infested areas, which were mostly sand dunes. Um, but then it got more political with Michael. And it ended up where he did a complete stop on the whole property. They originally sent letters to the council saying I was nothing but a bully. I was just taking orders from senior people in the council and stopping them destroying the wetland. Do you regret, now, not stopping? Do you regret, now, not stopping? Definitely. Why? It's cost us a lot of money. You know, I lost my business out of it. The roadside attack on Mike Nager prevented him giving evidence against Gary Beckham. Going to court that day, we had a very good chance of winning; proving our innocence. When that happened, we didn't have the money to carry on fighting. Instead, Gary pleaded guilty, was sentenced to an overnight curfew for three months, and he's doing 200 hours of community service. Doing my time. I'm actually enjoying it. I've got some PD. I'm sitting up there working for the local church, giving them some swamp kauri... But he also has huge legal bills ` some accrued by his father and former business partner, Max John Beckham. Max Beckham is now in prison. He's appealing his 21-year sentence for manufacturing and supplying methamphetamine, dealing in cocaine, kidnapping and money laundering. His wife, Jenny Marie Taylor, was also convicted of money laundering and was sentenced to nine months' home detention in Mangonui. What's happened with my family has got nothing to do with this case. Except that Jenny Taylor is a 75% shareholder in your company. Except that Jenny Taylor is a 75% shareholder in your company. She is a 75% shareholder. The company that Gary Beckham and Jenny Taylor jointly own and Max Beckham founded was fined $50,000 for the illegal earthworks near the Kaimaumau wetland. The company, um, has gone into liquidation because of this. So there's not much chance of getting that money from the company. After the break... Did you know Mike Nager was attacked on his way to give evidence? Yep. Yep. Do you know anything about that? And why has Mike Nager been sacked by the Northland Regional Council? Do you have a criminal history? > It's like something out of the movies. Remember, Mike Nager says he was assaulted on his way to court last June. He believes it was someone who was connected to the case. Did you know Mike Nager was attacked on his way to give evidence? Did you know Mike Nager was attacked on his way to give evidence? Yep. Do you know anything about that? Do you know anything about that? No, we don't. I think he did it himself. It's hard to fake being blinded and having a cut face. Why would you do that? Well, who said he was blinded? Well, who said he was blinded? Well, he was taken to hospital. Yeah, he was. Um, look, if this honestly did happen, I do feel sorry for him in that regard. But I don't believe that it is. I personally think he had something to do with this himself. That's pretty outrageous. You know, who would do that to themselves? So you have absolutely no doubt that you were attacked on the way to court that morning? > You've seen the photos yourself, John. I have no doubt. There is no evidence to link Gary Beckham or his co-accused with the attack on Mike Nager. Police have yet to find who was responsible. Although he's been fined, and one of his companies liquidated, Gary Beckham's kauri sawmill is flat stick, taking advantage of the record prices Chinese businesses in particular are paying. We're still in business. It's a slightly different business than it was back then. It's probably more working with, um, our customers. But Mike Nager, the environment officer behind the prosecution, is out of a job. He's been sacked. On the 17th of March I received a letter from the CEO, terminating my employment. Did your dismissal come as a shock? Did your dismissal come as a shock? Yeah, it did. Until last year, Mike was based here, at Opua ` an hour north of Whangarei. Mike, this is the old office? Yep. This is the place I worked for nearly the past four years. Yep. This is the place I worked for nearly the past four years. Why did you lose your job? I really don't know. ACC gave my employer some information, and it was incorrect and it was private. It should never have gone to them. And things changed. Mike went back to work 10 days after the June attack. It was still pretty tough, but hanging around at home was, sort of, not an option. But then, in October, he became ill. I wasn't sleeping. Horrific nightmares about it. Driving along, just getting flashbacks continuously. What did your doctor say? What did your doctor say? My doctor described me as a train wreck and put me off work. He says he was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the chemical attack. Well, who told you that was what you were suffering from? Well, who told you that was what you were suffering from? Um, a psychiatrist told me that. Um, I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Um, I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. And the psychiatrist told ACC? Yes. Yes, they did. Then ACC really put a spanner in the works. What happened? What happened? They sent a... a report to my employer that contained private medical information ` psychological reports, incorrect quotes from counsellors... ACC has since apologised to Mike. So your employer had all your personal medical information. What happened? Their attitude changed overnight. They started sending me letters saying that I was danger to myself; I could be a danger to others. They didn't want me working back in` in my role. What did they want you to do? What did they want you to do? They were pushing me out of the job. I have no doubt about that at all. Northland Regional Council's CEO, Malcolm Nicholson, declined to appear on camera. But he did tell us that the ACC report inadvertently sent to the council had no bearing on his decision to terminate Mike Nager's employment. He says Mike had a very specialised position, and it needed to be filled after a long absence. What about now? Would you still like to go back? I wouldn't go back and work for them for all the money in the world. I wouldn't go back and work for them for all the money in the world. Why not? They're the most cold, callous, bullying organisation that I've ever heard of. But Gary Beckham can't understand how Mike Nager got his investigator job in the first place. He certainly washes up like he's... he's a poor innocent man. The reality is he's got convictions. I have one conviction ` an old one. Four years ago Mike Nager was convicted and discharged for the theft of $4000 from a volunteer fire brigade in Taranaki. And before I left I paid the outstanding amount. Had you declared that conviction to the Northland Regional Council? Had you declared that conviction to the Northland Regional Council? Yes, I had. And was it discussed with the council before you were employed? And was it discussed with the council before you were employed? Yes, it was. Mike Nager says the Northland Regional Council and ACC haven't heard the last from him. He's now planning legal action against both of them. Why don't you just put this all behind you and get on with your life? I'm getting treatment at the moment. I am coming right. But I need to follow this through. I don't want this happening to somebody else. It's... horrific. After the break, the most explosive celebration in the world. What's the difference of a festival like this to a pyrotechnic display that we would see in Australia or the US? > that we would see in Australia or the US? > Lawyers. Welcome back. Once a year in the small Mexican town of Tultepec, there's the most explosive celebration in the world. It's a blast. Literally. The week-long festival ends with a fiery parade involving 300 huge man-made bulls laden with fireworks exploding through the streets. Here's Denham Hitchcock with a cracker of a story. MAN: It's crazy. Completely crazy. We're crazy people. MAN: It's just a tradition, and it's a wonderful tradition. Just north of Mexico City lies the town of... Tultepec! At this time of the year, Tultepec is overrun with... Toro! That's Spanish for bulls. Big ones. Everywhere. Man-made beasts bristling with fireworks. CHEERING The final act in the fiesta of San Juan de Dios ` a week-long party in honour of John of God. (WOLF-WHISTLES) Yay! Incredibly, he's the patron saint for pyrotechnicians. Where else in the world can you go, carrying a beer and a cigar in one hand and lighting rockets with the other? Phil Sandmeyer can't do this at home in America. That's why he's been coming here for the last 25 years. What's the difference of a festival like this to a pyrotechnic display that we would see in Australia or the US? > Lawyers. (LAUGHS) No rules. No regulations. (CHUCKLES) It's all right. I've still got my hand. In other countries, uh, there's no assumed risk. The nanny state's supposed to take care of you. But down here you're responsible for yourself. SPANISH TRUMPET MUSIC Peligro. It means 'danger' ` and for good reason. There's no electricity here, and you won't find anyone lighting up a cigarette. And that's because every one of these brick huts is, in essence, a mini bomb-making factory. There's a thousand of them here on the outskirts of town. A thousand. And that's because there's enough gunpowder here to wipe out half of Tultepec. Mexico is one of the world's largest producers of fireworks, and more than 50% is made here in Tultepec. It's a centuries-old tradition. Here you can smell the gunpowder burn. You can see it. You can feel the... the earth will shake because of a bomb exploding. So, this is the centre of town, where all the action takes place? Exactly. This is where, tonight, it will be happening. Tonatin Blancas-Lopez is the town's historian. People in Tultapec, they love their fire. They are lovers of fire, and they live for fire. In some cases they die for fire. But... they celebrate life that way. Uh, they celebrate life by risking it. During the week-long festival, the fuse will be lit to more than 80 tons of gunpowder. Night after night, explosions light the sky, including the castillos ` huge, 10-storey-high castles rigged to blow. Whoo! But it's all a mere sideshow to the unforgettable finale. ALL CHANT People get insanely close to the fireworks. Well, that's` that's part of it down here. Fireworks are an interactive sport for the populace. To be burned down here is to be blessed by the saint. So just about everyone here has been blessed? I think at least once. There might be a little bit of alcohol involved with some of the participants. But that's part of Mexican fireworks as well. Is it to bless the drunk or the stupid? > Is it to bless the drunk or the stupid? > Oh, he looks after them all. As soon as the sun goes down, the bulls comes out and the rockets go off. UPBEAT MUSIC A dangerous mix of fireworks and Mexican fire water. The participants are mostly young men. The object is to get as close to the bull as possible. It's part tradition, part alcohol and part absolute craziness. This is why they call it dancing with the bulls. You have to keep moving. And then it's my turn to push Juan Carlos' big bull. Actually, what it amounts to is a giant bomb on wheels. I'll be honest with you ` there's been a fair bit of bravado up until this point, but now it's time to man up. This is me and my amigos. And this is about to get real. CHEERING Once you're in the thick of it, there's no escaping. A mix of pure fear and adrenalin. And then I'm hit. (COUGHS) Aaaah! Struck on my hands. Briefly on fire. The two minutes it takes for all the fireworks on the bull to explode are the longest of my life. When it's over, I can't feel the burn for the adrenalin. But the injury is for real. Look out! Chaos! Absolute chaos! All right, I'll admit it ` I'm a little shaken up. (CHUCKLES) Gladiator! Oh man. (COUGHS) The smoke, the embers... The fire. I was on fire at one point. This man put me out. Thank you. Thank you, senor. Watch this thing. It's coming. Look out. Look out. It was a good year for the festival ` only 500 people were injured. 499 Mexicans and one Australian. I'm seen to, bandaged and told to harden up. Malo? No? No? No. No? No. Not too bad? (SPEAKS SPANISH) (SPEAKS SPANISH) (SPEAKS SPANISH, LAUGHS) She's telling me to man up in Spanish. And so, burnt but not broken, I have a story to tell and a scar to show from this cracker of a night. So, kids, don't even think about trying that at home. That's our show for tonight.