KEY POINTS:
The head of a Maori language preschool is at the centre of two investigations over alleged forgery and using thousands of dollars of Government funds to pay her household bills.
Ihapera Ripia, who runs Te Tane-nui-arangi Kohanga Reo in Murupara, has admitted to the Herald that she used the preschool centre's chequebook to pay her grocery, power, rates and phone bills.
There is also an allegation of forgery of at least five out of 16 signatures on a document used to secure an interest-free loan worth about $13,641 for the Bay of Plenty kohanga, which last year had a roll of 25.
Ms Ripia denies any involvement in the alleged forgery.
Murupara police are investigating the forgery and fraud allegations, made by the kohanga's former chairwoman, Vickilee George, and Maori Affairs and Associate Education Minister Parekura Horomia has called for an urgent report into the claims.
The report by the Kohanga Reo National Trust, which manages Maori language preschools, will also investigate:
* The allegation by Ms George of the "gifting" of a 1993 Toyota Hi Ace van, a former kohanga reo vehicle, now registered to Ms Ripia.
* The use of kohanga funds to pay for the registration, repairs, warrant of fitness and petrol of a 1996 Toyota Corolla, registered in Ms Ripia's name since August last year.
The police investigation centres on a special funding loan application from the trust to secure an interest- free loan worth $13,641 to pay expenses and wages at the kohanga.
Ms Ripia is the main wage recipient at the kohanga.
Ms George alleges that at least five of 16 parent signatures required to secure the loan, including the signature of her own partner, Thomas Whakatihi, were forgeries done without their consent.
Murupara police Sergeant Rob Hutchins said allegations of fraud and using a document for pecuniary advantage were being investigated.
"There have been allegations involving forgery and other fraud offending."
Inquiries were continuing.
"Further charges could follow from our investigation."
The issues came to light after Ms George was appointed chairwoman at a kohanga whanau meeting last year.
She claims she was later removed after trying to get answers on financial irregularities.
She and her two children have since been banned from attending the kohanga reo, as has former treasurer Keriana Reedy and her children.
Ms Reedy was notified of the ban last week.
She said although no reason was given, she suspected it related to her support for Ms George and moves to seek answers over financial irregularities within the kohanga.
The Herald has been supplied with meeting minutes, audit reports and kohanga receipts which support a number of Ms George's allegations.
Receipts and invoices show the trust paid $3393 for Ms Ripia's telephone and power bills in 2005 and early last year.
Also included are grocery receipts paid for by the trust, which Ms George said were clearly not intended for children at the kohanga.
"The kids don't eat sirloin steak or need shaving cream or panty liners."
Ms Ripia said the payments were part of her employment package.
"It is part of my incentive."
She refused to comment further, directing questions to trust lawyers.
Trust deputy chief executive Heke Huata said the payment of employee bills was a breach of the trust's rules.
She said the trust considered the issues to be serious but could not act without a full investigation.
This would be assisted by an audit of the kohanga's books for the 2006 financial year, which was due soon.
The kohanga was criticised in its most recent audit for failing to pay GST and PAYE and supply receipts for expense claims.
The 2005 financial year audit by Whakatane accountancy firm Goldsmiths criticised the kohanga for failure to resolve issues raised in three previous audits, saying it "does not appear to have attempted to remedy any of the past concerns".
The audit report warned that there were still too many missing invoices and accounts and a list of expenses it could not vouch for.
The kohanga was forced to pay more than $7000 in tax penalties for failing to pay GST and PAYE on time, an increase of more than $4000 on penalties accrued the year before.
