News | Maori

16 Sep 2025 18:42

| outlook hotmail | yahoo mail | gmail | news | weather | finance | shopping | about nzcity | Search |

NZCity News

News

Home > News > Maori

Maori King's close advisor pleads guilty to misappropriating tens of thousands in charitable funds

A close advisor to the Maori King has pleaded guilty to lying and misappropriating tens of thousands of dollars in charitable funds

16 December 2019

Rangi Whakaruru has admitted in the Auckland District Court to six counts of forgery, obtaining by deception and lying to Serious Fraud Office investigators.

He's been right-hand-man to the King Tuheitia since 2009.

The majority of charges relate to more than 48-thousand dollars of medical expenses for a stomach staple in May 2016.

Whakaruru billed it back to the Ururangi Trust - a then-registered charity set up to handle expenses related to the King's healthcare.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

>> More Maori News

Subscribe to NZCity's Maori articles

© 2025 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

Other Maori News

16 Sep: A former Maori Party leader says he can't make sense of MP Takuta Ferris' controversial race comments

14 Sep: Maori Language Week kicks off today, with it marking its 50th anniversary

07 Sep: Te Pati Maori's Oriini Kaipara has paid tribute to the late Takutai Tarsh Kemp - after winning the Tamaki Makaurau by-election

31 Aug: Damning claims from a former Welsh rugby international about New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol

30 Aug: Hobson's Pledge is defending its decision to use Rotorua's Mayor in its campaign against Maori wards, without her permission

28 Aug: Te Pati Maori president and former Labour MP John Tamihere has confirmed another tilt for office

28 Aug: Tipa Mahuta has been elected unopposed to Waikato Regional Council, following the death of respected local Maxine Moana-uwhangai -- the only other candidate in the Nga Hau e Wha Maori constituency

Top Stories

RUGBY
Netball New Zealand board chair Matt Whineray claims stood-down coach Dame Noeline Taurua was aware of the investigation into the Silver Ferns environment, despite reports to the contrary More...

BUSINESS
???1;Falling interest rates are yet to flow through to the housing market More...

Today's News

Politics:
A former Maori Party leader says he can't make sense of MP Takuta Ferris' controversial race comments 18:37

Entertainment:
Charlie Sheen made awful homemade movies with the Penn brothers 18:31

International:
Does washing your fruit and veggies remove chemicals? 18:17

Law and Order:
A 23-year-old man's been charged following a fight at a football match on Auckland's North Shore - which left a player with a broken jaw 18:07

Entertainment:
Malcolm-Jamal Warner's widow has finally publicly confirmed her identity 18:01

Entertainment:
Boris Becker was asked by a prison doctor if he had been self-harming during his time in Wandsworth 17:31

Law and Order:
A 34-year-old man's facing a raft of charges after two incidents in the Far North where he allegedly threatened people with a gun 17:27

Entertainment:
Denise Richard's ex-husband Aaron Phypers has alleged the actress abandoned their marital home in a state of chaos and filth 17:01

Law and Order:
An Auckland serial rapist has been cleared of a kidnapping almost 20 years later after an investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission 16:57

Entertainment:
Julianne Moore has credited the longevity of her marriage to Bart Freundlich to them simply enjoying one another's company 16:31

News Search

© 2025 New Zealand City Ltd