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Whistleblower accuses MSD and Māori Party of misusing public funds during 2023 election campaign

Manurewa Marae news
Maori Party president John Tamihere (L), Takutai Kemp (R).

A whistleblower from Manurewa Marae has accused the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) of being complicit in the misuse of public funds intended for welfare beneficiaries during the 2023 election campaign.

Employment advocate Alan Halse, representing the concerned workers at the Marae, has stepped forward with the allegations, revealing them to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.

Halse’s clients are now pointing fingers at the Māori Party leadership and their candidate, former Marae CEO Takutai Kemp, alleging they directed MSD funds to be spent on the election campaign instead of supporting the intended welfare recipients.

‘The MSD basically funded the election campaign of the former chief executive of the Marae,’ Halse told Hosking.

Official results show Kemp beat Labour incumbent Peeni Henare by 42 votes.

The whistleblowers claim that MSD, Stats NZ, and the Electoral Commission were forewarned by Marae workers about the misuse of funds but did nothing to address the situation.

Halse went further saying he believed these government departments acted in concert with the Māori Party. He said even if ‘a quarter of the allegations are true’, the police and Fraud Squad need to get involved. He also called for the Māori Party to stand down from Parliament until a full inquiry is conducted.

The allegations follow those made earlier this week where Marae staff were accused of photocopying census forms and entering private details into a database.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. If the forewarning by Marae workers about the misuse of funds to Ministry of Social Development, Stats NZ, and the Electoral Commission proved real corruption, and these entities did nothing to address the crime, that warrants comprehensive address.
    But then again and again and again, when will the public see real justice?
    Oh noooo, that would be racist?!
    Don’t you officials comprehend the societal repercussions and fall-out?
    Unlikely, because you’ve been brought up in a wrought paradigm.
    Future reality won’t be mollycoddling.

  2. Don’t you just love the use of words to minimise criminal activity.

    If you work in a company and use the funds for something you want to buy, it is called embezzlement.

    If you work inside government and do the same thing, it is called misuse of public funds.

    What nonsense. It is calling thief. It is called thief by a public servant.

    When is the criminal trial?

  3. How would marae staff know if there was a misuse of funds? Do they work at MSD and have details of money spent and what that money was actually earmarked for? This story is sensationalism and woefully undercooked speculation. Show me the evidence then I’ll start listening.

    • SOURCE?!

      Seriously though, I’m with you on this. I want at least five citations, peer reviewed and fact checked by snopes and the Washington Post before I trust this story.

      If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that upstart political parties, bankrolled by foreign NGO’s dark money and propped up by fawning mainstream media coverage are ALWAYS beyond reproach.

      Deep down, all politicians are honest 😊

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