Mallard Treats Taxpayers' Money With Contempt

Monday 29 Nov 2004

Deborah Coddington - Press Releases -Education

ACT Education Spokesman Deborah Coddington today called on Trevor Mallard to recover taxpayers' money poured into a Maori wanaga in Waitakere, in light of the local council's decision to recoup a $2 million loan it made to the Waipareira Trust for the land it was to be built on.

"Since 2001, the Labour Government has forked out $600,000 to Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples to put together a business plan and curriculum for the proposed wanaga," Miss Coddington said.

"I warned Mr Mallard in September that the wanaga was in trouble and asked whether he would take action to recover the money paid to Dr Sharples. He ruled out recouping the money and couldn't even give me a deadline for when the curriculum would be completed.

"The Minister's lack of accountability for taxpayers' money beggars belief. For all New Zealanders know, the $600,000 given to Dr Sharples could have been spent setting up the Maori Party.

"Trevor Mallard must get his head out of the sand and take action to protect our money before it's too late. Simply fobbing off my questions and hoping the problem will go away won't work," Miss Coddington said.

ENDS

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