A former staff member at the National Army Museum in Waiouru has admitted seven charges related to the theft of medals from the museum.
Keith Davies, 57, appeared in the Wellington District Court on Thursday
He admitted a charge of false pretences for obtaining more than $10,000 between 1997 and 2003 by purporting that military medals and literature he was selling belonged to him.
The other charges to which he pleaded guilty included theft as a servant, false accounting, and obtaining money by deception.
His offending involved 744 medals, but only about 300 of them have been recovered.
Police withdrew a rare charge of unlawfully exporting New Zealand antiquities.
Judge Susan Thomas remanded Davies on bail until sentencing on 18 November.
Davies' lawyer, Greg King, said his client would be offering a substantial amount in reparation when he is sentenced.
