A former employee of the trust that looks after the Waitangi Treaty Grounds has apologised for defrauding the trust of about $1.2 million, speaking with what he freely described as "the plumb that is perhaps the size of a coconut in my mouth".
Wallace Tamamotu Te Ahuru, 30, of Kerikeri today pleaded guilty to two charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office of obtaining by deception and seven charges of using forged documents in the Manukau District Court.
Te Ahuru misappropriated about $1.2 million from the Waitangi National Trust Group while he was employed as its corporate services manager, responsible for the financial administration of the trust.
He spent the money he stole on various things including travel and accommodation, luxury clothing, cosmetic surgery, a vehicle, adult entertainment and gambling.
It’s emerged today Wallace Te Ahuru used some of the $1.2 million he stole on cosmetic surgery and adult entertainment. (Source: Other)
Te Ahuru spoke to 1 NEWS before going into court where he was remanded in custody for sentencing at the end of November, and is facing a possible jail term.
"I think this is an opportunity to apologise to all of those whom have been affected by the misappropriation of funds - the Waitangi National Trust Board, the directors as well as former work colleagues and also new Zealanders who would have benefited from the ongoing programme of refreshment and enhancement of which these funds would have been used," he said.
"So, here today to acknowledge what I've done is egregious. I voluntarily came back from Australia to New Zealand and face the consequences and to be judged accordingly."
1 NEWS Māori affairs reporter Yvonne Tahana said Te Ahuru is a Māori "soon to be criminal" the likes of whom we haven't seen before - young, urbane, with quaffed hair, and an accent.
Wallace Te Ahuru is accused of funding a lavish lifestyle by defrauding the trust by over a million dollars. (Source: Other)
"Where does that come from?" she asked.
"I'm assuming that you're referring to the plumb that is perhaps the size of a coconut in my mouth?" Te Ahuru replied.
"No, I must say my grandmother is perhaps a huge influence in my life and also a number of people around me whom I have associated through for years. I mean I am what I am."
Te Ahuru's social media presence boasted of a life of luxury.
He called himself Wallace the Tory online and posted pictures of a $130,000 BMW, drinking champagne, playing croquet, and dining with former Prime Minister Sir John Key and being at Huka hunting lodge.
Asked today does that all look ridiculous now, Te Ahuru said, "No, I don't think it looks ridiculous because a number of those posts were well before the alleged fraud."
He said he wasn't boasting of a lifestyle.
"They just happened to be pictures of me at a particular place and time that were taken by friends and posted on social media. Admittedly I did post some of those as well.
"But there were a couple of photos, well a few of them, that had taken place about a year to two years before the fraud, in particular the one with Sir John Key."
He said Sir John happened to be at the table he was at during a National Party conference.
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