King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:669;Page:15726] 
3. 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: In light of reports that Taeaomanino Trust which the Ministry of Social Development has given funding to is under investigation by police relating to allegations of misappropriation of money will she undertake a full inquiry into the activities of the trust; if not why not? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 I have been assured that these allegations have been investigated by the trust itself by Deloitte and by the ministry’s contracting team. I have also been assured that no Government money was involved in the February 2009 fraud that the staff member is no longer involved with the trust and that there is a police investigation under way—I think it should be allowed to continue. 
Hon Annette King 
: When did she become aware that the trust was under investigation by the police for the misappropriation of money dating back to March 2009? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: The fraud was first brought to my attention in February 2009 but the police investigation only recently via the newspaper. 
Hon Annette King 
: Was she aware that there were serious issues of honesty being raised about the trust before agreeing to half a million dollars for Family Start in May this year? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: As I indicated in February 2009 it was drawn to the ministry’s attention that there were some allegations. It was followed up by three investigations that I am aware of. At the end of the day the conclusion that they came to was that no Ministry of Social Development money had been involved in the fraud and that the person was no long working there. When it came to administering a Family Start contract the four top tenders were actually investigated by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Taeaomanino Trust was one that was allocated in Porirua. 
Hon Annette King 
: Has she read the independent forensic report carried out by Deloitte for the ministry in November last year which was damning of the trust found numerous issues relating to honesty; if so given that many of the same people are still at the trust can she give an assurance to taxpayers that the money is now being used appropriately? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I am not involved in the independent report. When I looked at the contract that was being administered via Family Start my interpretation of it was that there was no need for ministerial intervention and I felt that the allegations had not been proven—and that is what I did. 
Hon Annette King 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am sure you heard my question. I asked whether she had read the independent forensic report carried out by Deloitte; if so given that the same people are there can she give an assurance that taxpayers’ funding is now being used appropriately? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think the Minister responded to the second part of the question. Because there were two parts to the question she did not have to comment on whether she had read the report. But I think she did give the assurance to the House that she is satisfied that this outfit will be utilising taxpayers’ money effectively under the contract involved. But if I have got that wrong the Minister is free to correct me. 
Hon Annette King 
: Did she provide the Deloitte report to the Minister responsible for Whanau Ora before that Minister announced the trust as a whanau ora provider last month with up to $1 million of taxpayers’ money at stake; if not why not? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I do not have the Deloitte report in front of me but my understanding is that it did not find allegations of fraud—that is in there just to give some clarification of that. The Minister responsible for Whanau Ora has made decisions about who should do that. I think they will do an outstanding job as far as initiating those sorts of programmes for Maori and I welcome them.