People are not being adequately cared for at the country's only kaupapa Maori intellectually disabled trust, a former board member claims.
NZ First leader Winston Peters. Photo: RNZ
An independent auditor has been appointed to Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau after accusations by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters that the organisation has misused its funding. The trust's chairman has stepped down.
Shane Te Pou, who previously served on the trust's board, said the problems were affecting people being cared for by the trust due to a chunk of its budget being used to pay for consultants and vehicles - money which had to come from somewhere.
Mr Te Pou said he had heard from whanau of clients that they were not being cared for properly; one client could not leave the residential centre to visit relatives unless the whanau provided gas money.
The trust has previously declined to be interviewed by Radio New Zealand.
