Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Priest expected to step down as business group head

Updated at 6:17 am on 29 July 2011

The manager who has quit at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) amid an investigation into missing funds is expected to also step down as the head of a business incubator group.

AUT says the Reverend Jonathan Kirkpatrick resigned as a consequence of its investigations into the accounting discrepancies.

The institution has filed a complaint with police over fraudulent activities and possible theft.

Mr Kirkpatrick was also a priest in charge at St Alban's Church in Balmoral.

The Auckland diocese says he no longer holds any position of responsibility, though he remains a priest.

Mr Kirkpatrick is also chair of Incubators New Zealand, an industry group that has received about $80,000 of taxpayer funding this year to run a technology conference.

Incubators New Zealand treasurer Steve Corbett says he has yet to hear from Mr Kirkpatrick, but expects to receive his resignation.

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