Defence funds ‘embezzled’

Christchurch

A woman has been charged with stealing $225,000 from New Zealand Defence Force social club accounts, then using most of that money for gambling. The Serious Fraud Office said yesterday it had charged 60-year-old Paniparewhakaro Elizabeth Rangiuia with theft by person in a special relationship and false accounting. She is accused of embezzling the money from social club accounts usually used for the health, wellbeing and retention of army personnel. The SFO alleged Rangiuia, who worked for the Defence Force from 1987 until her dismissal in September 2018, used the money for gambling. She worked as a financial administrator of non-public funds at Waiouru Military Training Facility from 2009. She will next appear in Levin District Court in March.

More than 100 people who dined at Christchurch’s Madam Woo restaurant when a chef with hepatitis A prepared food have been vaccinated. Some of the diners, who ate there two weeks ago, have until today for the vaccine to work. Canterbury District Health Board said 101 patrons had been vaccinated so far, with further clinics happening today. Community and Public Health had contacted everyone who ate there on January 15, and all dine-in patrons from January 17. ‘‘We are unable to confirm if all patrons have made contact . . . due to Madam Woo being unable to provide information on the total number of those potentially exposed, including ‘walk-in’ patrons,’’ Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink said. The health teams were working ‘‘extremely hard to provide those potentially exposed with the appropriate advice’’, he said.