September 02, 2016
Repayment needs to be on Tenths agenda
Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust chair Neville Baker says the onus is now on the Wellington Tenths Trust to retrieve money taken by the former chair of the two organisations.
Sir Ngatata Love was yesterday found guilty of obtaining property by deception with respect to a $3 million fee paid by a developer for the right to lease a Pipitea St site owned by the trust.
Mr Baker says it’s a relief the case is finally over and suppression orders have been lifted.
He says Love’s actions had a real impact on the trusts he controlled.
"In regard to Wellington Tenths, they have to make some decisions because the court has found a substantial amount of money did not go where it should have gone and I guess the decision for Wellington Tenths is how do that follow that through. Beneficiaries would expect any money that should have gone into the Wellington Tenths should be pursued and money repaid," Mr Baker says.
He says while Sir Ngatata Love was prominent in business and political circles, he was not appointed to those roles by the iwi.
The Wellington Tenths Trust holds its annual meeting tomorrow.
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