At Waitangi

‘He looked after our house when we were away and he spent three Christmas Days with our family during his time here.’ GREG MCMANUS

trust completely to develop systems and processes that would restore confidence in the trust.’’

McManus said no-one had ever questioned Te Ahuru’s integrity or the quality of his work.

‘‘From this position of universal trust and respect, Wallace perpetrated a massive premeditated and calculated fraud against the Waitangi National Trust and Waitangi Limited that has left both organisations on the brink of financial ruin and caused untold damage to individuals and groups of people,’’ McManus said.

‘‘It has damaged the reputation of Waitangi in the minds of local community, the general public of New Zealand and the Government and Opposition in Parliament.’’

At sentencing, Judge David McNaughton said that over 15 months Te Ahuru had transferred $1.22m into his personal bank accounts through 43 payments that were made to look like legitimate transactions.

The judge described Te Ahuru’s offending as calculated, sustained and deliberate.

‘‘The consequences of your offending have been severe. Not just on the organisation but also the individuals,’’ he said.

‘‘Some of them were under suspicion and thought to be responsible for the fraud that has impacted on them and their families.

‘‘Over and above that, there has been a loss of personal mana and the mana of the trust, board and staff.’’