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An independent review of financial controls at Te Kohanga Reo National Trust has concluded there was no misuse of public funds.
But it has raised concerns about credit card spending at the trust’s commercial subsidiary, Te Pataka Ohanga, and queried the payment of a $50,000 koha to a related party for work done towards the trusts Waitangi Tribunal claim.
Audit firm Ernst and Young was asked to do the review after credit card records from Te Pataka Ohanga were leaked, leading to questions being asked about some purchases by former chief executive Lynda Tawhiwhirangi and director Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi.
Education Minister Hekia Parata says the review shows the Trust’s financial controls are effective.
She says the trust was legitimately buying services for Kohanga Reo from Te Pataka Ohanga and there was no misuse of public monies in this regard.
The trust has cancelled all credit cards, and it is working through the review’s recommendations around accounts processing, documentation and the recording of koha.
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