A former trustee of a Maori trust has interrupted a trial ... to admit to stealing a million dollars

Stephen Henare was facing five charges of theft by a person in a special relationship, and one of perverting the course of justice.

Henare and his sister were appointed trustees of the one million dollar Parengarenga 3G Trust, in June 2012.

Less than two years later, its accounts had 13 dollars left.

The trust was designed to help underprivileged people, and manage a forest block on Maori land in Tai Tokerau District.