During an almost three-year period, Roger McClay charged World Vision and Keep New Zealand Beautiful $11,800 for travel costs when he had flown courtesy of the taxpayer.
He then claimed $12,887.10 from the Parliamentary Service for the 90 per cent travel discount he receives as an ex-MP.
Judge Jan Doogue indicated that a sentence of community work would be imposed if he pleaded guilty.
He will be sentenced next week, and will lose his ex-MP travel perk.
Crown prosecutor Susan Gray told the court that McClay claimed the perk for 47 trips made on charity business after signing declarations that the travel was for personal reasons.
In late 2005, he began working for World Vision as a government lobbyist, for which he was paid an annual salary of $66,000.
Over two years he charged the charity $5460.70 in driving mileage. He had in fact flown and claimed the ex-MP travel rebate.
In September 2006 he was elected chairman of Keep New Zealand Beautiful and was paid an honorarium of $25,000 a year.
He claimed driving costs 15 times when he had flown and claimed the ex-MP perk.
The charity paid him $6339.30.
McClay promised to pay back the entire $24,687.10 in lump sums by borrowing money.
- STAFF REPORTER, ADDITIONAL REPORTING: APN
