The former principal of a South Auckland primary school says she charged it for her husband's flights to Wellington because she spent so much time away from home.
Colleen Gray and her husband Bruce Gray have pleaded not guilty to charges of dishonestly using documents to obtain a pecuniary advantage and using forged documents.
Mrs Gray told the Auckland District Court on Tuesday that as principal of Mayfield Primary School in Otara she was on the executive of the Principals' Federation and had to fly to an event in Wellington.
She said the federation paid for her ticket and she paid for her husband's ticket out of the school's professional development fund.
Mrs Gray said she considered the event important enough to have her husband there, in light of the fact she spent so many weekends away from home.
Earlier, the court heard from the chair of the school's board of trustees, Phillip Logo, who said the decile one school was strapped for cash and he had never been consulted over it paying for Mr Gray's flights.
Crown prosecutor Steve Symon asked Mr Logo if he was aware Mrs Gray had charged the school for three trips to Australia. Mr Logo said that should have been brought to the board's attention, but it was the first time he had heard of the $4500 cost.
Under cross-examination by defence lawyer John Tannahill, Mr Logo said he did recall discussions about a trip to a principal's conference in South Africa that was approved.
The Crown says Mrs Gray invoiced her school for extra work in the names of teachers through her husband's company. One invoice for $3750 was in the name of A Craig.
Andrea Craig, a teacher at Mayfield school, said on Tuesday she was never paid for extra work and had never seen or signed a receipt in her name that was produced in court.
Defence lawyer John Tannahill said Mrs Gray would tell the court that she paid Ms Craig in cash, but Ms Craig denied that ever happened.
