Inquiry ordered into Kohanga Reo National Trust

Tracy Watkins at Stuff reports:

The Government has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of misspending by the general manager of the commercial arm of Kohanga Reo.

After a meeting at Parliament this evening, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples announced the Ministry of Education had commissioned an independent audit.

Good. And kudos to Maori TV again for their story.

Maori Television’s Native Affairs programme has alleged that public funds were misused by Lynda Tawhiwhirangi, the general manager of the Kohanga’s commercial arm Te Pataka Ohanga (TPO).

TPO announced today a staff member had been suspended and credit cards issued to staff and governors of the organisation had been cancelled in the wake of the allegations.

That’s a start.

In all the boards I have been on, I’ve never had a credit card. I always claim back expenses. The one exception is provision of a taxi card for travel related to that board.