Drummer and restaurateur Phil Rudd has been ordered to pay up after he kicked down a door and fired his workers during a tantrum at Phil's Place in 2012.

The Herald on Sunday reported the AC/DC drummer's been ordered to pay $72,600 for the unjustified dismissal of Hayden Clark, Janelle Kiwa, and Alice Kiwi in July 2012.

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been ordered to pay his former workers

For loss of income, Phil's Place must pay Alice Kiwa $4,872, Janelle Kiwa $4,536 and Clark $9,692. It must also pay the three applicants $15,000 each for distress and $8,500 in costs – a total of $72,600.

Phil's Place has 28 days to appeal against the decision.

Rudd went to the restaurant on July 18 2012, and asked chef Hayden Clark for food to be delivered to his nearby boat, says the ERA decision.

Rudd's security told restaurant staff the food was instead to go to Rudd's hangar at the airport.

Rudd returned to the restaurant, kicking down a door, asking where his food was, swearing at the workers and telling them they were all fired, before kicking over a rubbish tin and leaving.

At a later meeting Rudd announced the restaurant would be closed over winter, the trio was told their jobs were terminated and warned any breach of confidentiality would be treated seriously.

Hayden Clark and Alice Kiwa were out of work for three months. Janelle Kiwi lost six weeks wages and was effectively homeless, says ERA member Tania Tetitaha.

The authority says Janelle and Clark were also victims of false accusations about thefts from Phil's Place. Clark had to leave town to get a job.

While Rudd personally apologised to the Authority for his behaviour, he tried to keep it quiet and sought a non publication order relating to his presence as a witness, 'purient” interest by the media, the negative impact upon the restaurant business, and the effect upon his ability to move about the community.

His former staff opposed the order, objecting to the suppression of media due to Rudd's celebrity status and submitting he shouldn't be given more protection than anybody else.

The Authority agrees saying Rudd's celebrity status was used to promote the restaurant.

'Mr Rudd was intimately involved in the cause of action giving rise to this dispute. He was not a passive bystander,” says Tania Tetitaha.

'The Authority understands he does not largely dispute what occurred and his involvement. If the so, his reputation cannot be marred by events he accepts are truthful.”