John David Rangitauira struck from roll

14 Month 2013

John David Rangitauira struck from roll

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered that John David Rangitauira be struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors.

This follows a hearing in Wellington on 1 March 2013 at which Mr Rangitauira, a former barrister and solicitor, admitted a charge brought by the New Zealand Law Society’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Standards Committee No 2.

The Law Society charged that Mr Rangitauira had been convicted of four offences punishable by imprisonment and that the convictions reflected on his fitness to practice or brought the legal profession into disrepute.

The convictions related to Mr Rangitauira’s misappropriation of $844,000 from Westpac Bank and the Te Houoterangi Trust. Criminal charges were laid against him by the Serious Fraud Office and after conviction he was sentenced to 4.5 years imprisonment in relation to his offending.

The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal found that the dishonest offending had clearly brought the legal profession into disrepute. It said this had been accepted by Mr Rangitauira in consenting to his being struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors.

New Zealand Law Society President Jonathan Temm said the offending showed what happened when a senior lawyer lost sight of his professional responsibilities and allowed himself to become personally financially involved in the affairs of his client.

“Clients place a very high degree of trust in their lawyer, and any abuse of this is an extremely serious matter. Any lawyer who breaks the rules for the duty of care they owe their clients can expect that conduct to be reviewed.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media