The Government has launched an independent inquiry into the financial expenditure of the National Kōhanga Reo Trust, and the $80 million of public money it receives annually from the Ministry of Education. The move comes following allegations of inappropriate spending by some executives of Te Kōhanga Reo subsidary, Te Pātaka Ōhanga.
The Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust says they welcome the independent inquiry. They also say they have launched their own independent report into the expenditure of subsidiary company, Te Pātaka Ōhanga, which will be completed this week.
While they remained tight-lipped, it was inevitable an independent inquiry would be laid on the table by the ministers in their meeting with the board. In essence, it will be an audit of the public funding received by Te Kōhanga Reo, a total of $80 million a year.