Native Affairs investigated allegations of misspending at a South Auckland Trust which receives taxpayer funding of $30million.
Te Rōpū Taurima O Manukau Trust has the task of looking after some of the most vulnerable in our community, the intellectually disabled and those suffering mental illness.
The trust was set-up to ensure they have good quality of life. Its money is supposed to go towards making sure they have adequate housing, transport, and food. However recently the trust ran into trouble. Between 2010 and 2012 there were 47 reported incidences including alleged patient abuse, self-harm and escapes.
There are other problems too, when Native Affairs became aware of allegations of misspending involving tens if not several hundreds of thousands of dollars we decided to ask questions.
Staff at the trust began asking questions too, like why were they in financial strife?