Tue, 01 Dec 2009 8:42p.m.
The vice-president of the Hospitality Association (HANZ), Marty Fuller, has stood down from his position amid an alleged funding scandal involving prominent rugby clubs.
Marist Albion loaned $107,000 to Mr Fuller through a front company to buy Christchurch's Craic Irish pub, the Sunday Star Times reported.
Distinguished rugby club Christchurch High School Old Boys, which produced All Blacks Dan Carter, Justin Marshall, Andrew Mehrtens and Aaron Mauger, put up its Riccarton clubrooms as security for a bank loan Fuller received, totalling about $100,000.
Once the deals were in place, in 2007, pokie grants to the two clubs increased substantially, the newspaper reported.
Internal Affairs compliance officer Mike Hill said it appeared the two clubs had been able to influence the grants process.
The department banned gaming charity New Zealand Community Trust from giving any more money to the clubs and if further evidence came to light, they could move to recover the money, Mr Hill said.
Mr Fuller said at the weekend he knew nothing about what grants the two clubs had received.
"In my position with HANZ, I'm acutely aware that we can't get involved in the grants process."
But Marist Albion club captain Brian Haigh, a board member who voted on the deal, said he understood it was about securing gaming revenue.
High School Old Boys club president Kel Victor said the club would not have got involved if it had known the deal was in breach of the Gaming Act.
Today, Mr Fuller said he would resign to protect the good name and credibility of HANZ.
He said in no way should it be an indication of any wrongdoing, but rather a demonstration of his total commitment to HANZ and the retention of its integrity.
He said he would fight to clear his name.
HANZ president Bill McLean said Mr Fuller's resignation was a measure of both his commitment and loyalty to the Hospitality Association over a very long period.
NZPA