An army corporal who siphoned thousands of dollars from the New Zealand Army Men’s Touch Team has been dismissed from the Defence Force and sentenced to detention, though she will remain free on bail while she appeals.
Corporal Jackie Te Weehi, 49, admitted stealing $3,422.57 in NZDF and team-member funds while managing the squad’s trip to the 2023 Australian Defence Force Touch Championships.
She also fabricated an official document claiming players had travel insurance, which later proved untrue.
At her court martial at Whenuapai Air Base, Te Weehi pleaded guilty to theft by a person in a special relationship and to making a false official document.
The court said her offending represented a serious, repeated breach of trust, noting she stole from subordinates who relied on her leadership. Judge Hastings described the conduct as premeditated and self-serving, directly contradicting core military values of integrity and comradeship.
Although Te Weehi repaid the stolen money and expressed remorse through letters to the court and the players, the judge ruled that dismissal alone was inadequate, and detention was necessary to denounce the offending and rehabilitate her.
Te Weehi’s lawyer successfully sought bail, citing the significant wait time for her appeal and health considerations.
She must surrender her passport and notify Military Police of any address changes.
Prosecutors argued she could never again be trusted in a position of responsibility. Judge Hastings agreed, saying her actions made continued military service impossible. Te Weehi’s long service record earned her some credit, but could not outweigh the severity of the breach.
Image credit: Wesley Tingey
