15 August 2018
Former employee of Waitangi National Trust Group charged with fraud

A 30-year-old former employee of the trust that looks after the Waitangi Treaty Grounds has been charged by the Serious Fraud Office.

Wallace Tamamotu Te Ahuru of Kerikeri faces two charges of ‘Obtaining by deception’ and seven charges of ‘Using forged documents’. He was not required to enter a plea during his appearance at the Manukau District Court on Tuesday.

The defendant is alleged to have defrauded the Waitangi National Trust Group of about $1.2 million while he was employed as its Corporate Services Manager. In this role he was responsible for the financial administration of the trust. Mr Te Ahuru is believed to have acted alone in the alleged offending.

Mr Te Ahuru, who returned from Australia recently, has been remanded on bail to reappear at the Manukau District Court on 4 September.

ENDS

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