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A National Kohanga Reo trustee says the trust wants answers by its meeting next week about spending by the manager of its commercial subsidiary Te Pataka Ohanga.
Maori Television’s Native Affairs show last night broadcast a story about the use of company credit cards by Lynda Tawhiwhirangi and her mother in law, director and trustee Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi.
Toni Waho says the story was based on records stolen from the company, and directors have brought in an outside advisor to review the situation.
He says the board has asked for that report, and if there was any misappropriation of funds, it will act.
"There is no doubt this has to be dealt with. We are extremely disappointed and saddended for all of our kohanga, and we are hoping the story isn't as bad as what it appears to have been presented on Native Affairs and if it ends up being as bad or worse, we are expecting appropriate action to be taken," he says.
Mr Waho says relations between the Kohanga Reo board and its staff are at a low ebb as a result of the training bungle that led to the departure of former chief executive Titoki Black, but it is important the organisation focuses on how best to continue passing on Maori language and culture to tamariki.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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