Waitangi manager admits fraud
Lavish lifestyle funded by $1.2 million dishonestly obtained from trust
The first road to be funded by Auckland’s Regional Fuel Tax has been announced — on the very outskirts of the city limits.
The $62 million Matakana Link Rd in Warkworth will help ease traffic congestion at a chokepoint on State Highway One, which causes long delays on holiday weekends.
Aformer manager of the organisation that looks after the Waitangi Treaty Grounds misappropriated about $1.2 million and splurged the money on luxury clothing, cosmetic surgery and travel.
Wallace Tamamotu Te Ahuru, 30, of Kerikeri, pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining by deception and seven charges of using forged documents when he appeared at the
It will bring the Matakana road on to the state highway, just north of the Warkworth Showgrounds.
Warkworth and the surrounding areas will account for 30 per cent of Auckland’s growth by 2050.
Auckland Transport’s chief executive Shane Ellison said this was part of getting ahead of that growth. Manukau District Court yesterday.
The charges were brought by the Serious Fraud Office.
Te Ahuru misappropriated about $1.2m from the Waitangi National Trust Group while he was employed as its corporate services manager.
In this role he was responsible for the financial administration of the trust. Te Ahuru is believed to have acted alone in the offending.
He used the money he stole for a
“The Matakana area has had a lot of growth, in terms of population and housing.
“It’s really important for helping us address congestion and helping people get around Warkworth.”
Warkworth and Matakana locals are welcoming the announcement, but some are disappointed it will start off as two lanes rather than four.
Warkworth Business Association manager Murray Chapman said Auckland Transport has told him four lanes wouldn’t be needed until 2036. He’s been lobbying Auckland Transport to make the road four lanes from the outset. “We’ve got variety of purposes, including travel and accommodation, luxury clothing, cosmetic surgery and the purchase of a vehicle.
Te Ahuru’s social media presence boasted of a life of luxury.
He called himself Wallace the Tory online and posted pictures of a $130,000 BMW, drinking champagne, playing croquet, and dining with former Prime Minister Sir John Key.
Serious Fraud Office director Julie Read said: “Mr Te Ahuru deceived the custodian of one of the most historically significant places in New Zealand. His offending has caused reputational damage to the Waitangi National Trust which is the recipient roading experts who say the analysis AT has done is flawed.
“We believe by the time it’s built, it will need to be four lanes.”
Chapman said if the road goes ahead as planned with two lanes, it’ll be backed up as soon as it’s done.
“We’ll have two chokepoints rather than one.” of government grants and private donations.” Te Ahuru was remanded in custody to reappear for sentencing on November 30.
A governance expert has told TVNZ’s Te Karere that fraud can be difficult to detect, and multiple levels of protection are needed to guard against this type of theft.
Chairman Pita Tipene said he was shocked by the theft, as was the rest of the board of the Waitangi National Trust. Ta¯maki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare said he was glad the fraud had been exposed.
“The challenge now is to restore the reputation of the trust,” Henare said.