The two gaming trusts at the centre of Rowing New Zealand's funding scandal say they are happy with the board's handling of the situation and will continue to work with them.
Rowing New Zealand's chief executive Craig Ross resigned yesterday, three weeks after the RNZ board were alerted
to irregularities in funding documents.
The board's independent audit found Ross had misrepresented the purpose for which funds received from gaming trusts were used.
In two cases, the documentation indicated the funding had been used to buy New Zealand-made rowing skiffs, when in fact the boats which were used in this year's world championships, came from Italy. The New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) gave $56,000 for new boats and the Southern Trust donated $45,000.
The trusts can ask Rowing New Zealand to repay the money, but they are more likely to ask for the differences in costs to be returned.
NZCT chief executive Mike Knell said his organisation was advised of the "internal administration irregularities within Rowing New Zealand" from their board.
"We have assisted them with their inquires and are comfortable with the process that they have followed."
Southern Trusts chief executive Karen Good said her organisation was also happy with the way the matter was dealt with and there would be no barriers to Rowing New Zealand applying for future funding.
RNZ chairman Bill Falconer said there had been no suggestion of any personal gain to Ross, who had acted alone, and all grants had gone into rowing.
Ross was not talking yesterday in a statement acknowledged he was aware that the gaming trusts have strict requirements regarding what funds must be used for and the reporting requirements that need to be made.
"All funds were however used for genuine New Zealand Rowing purposes and for the benefit of the sport. Absolutely no personal gain or personal benefit has been obtained," Ross said.
Ross had been chief executive for four years and was influential in the re-establishment of New Zealand as one of the top rowing nations.
