A former Tainui leader yesterday admitted 53 charges of fraud totalling nearly $17,000.
Tommy Kuru Moana, 54, was convicted in the Hamilton District Court of using and altering documents with intent to defraud the Maori Health Commission of $16,997.54.
His lawyer, Roger Laybourn, said full reparation would be made and Moana was
remanded at large to appear again in May for sentencing.
Moana, an adviser, of Ngaruawahia, was one of 11 people elected to Tainui's 12-member ruling executive, Te Kaumarua, in April 2000.
He resigned from the body two months later to prepare for the case.
Moana admitted using Eftpos, credit card and other receipts to falsely claim allowances and other benefits during his tenure as executive director of the commission between September 1997 and August 1999.
Most of the charges relate to false travel and expense claims, ranging from an Eftpos receipt of $10 to an expense claim of $1415.
Moana has worked as a consultant to the Waikato Museum of Art and History, as well as being an adviser on a Waikato police working party established to reduce Maori offending.
He has also been an adviser to Health Waikato.
