A man has spent the weekend in jail after he was accused of impersonating a volunteer collecting donations for an Alzheimer's Foundation.
Fabien Hoffmann Taoirangi-Howlett, 27, appeared in Auckland District Court facing a charge of dishonestly using an Alzheimer's New Zealand collection bucket and sash for his own financial gain.
Taoirangi-Howlett was remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance.
Court documents stated he was a builder who lived in Te Atatu. But at that address, a resident told APNZ Taoirangi-Howlett hadn't lived there for months.
In Auckland, charity collectors need a council permit. There is also a voluntary code of conduct for street appeal fundraising organisations. Auckland Council plans to review bylaws governing how charity collectors can approach pedestrians asking for donations.
An Alzheimer's New Zealand spokeswoman said the national organisation did not carry out bucket appeals but the Auckland branch might do. The non-profit organisation has 21 local organisations.
