By Charlotte Tonkin
More than $750,000 of students' money has been misappropriated by those who were meant to look after it.
A police investigation is underway into the finances of the Students’ Association at Whitireia Polytechnic in Wellington.
An independent audit, which hasn't been publicly released, has revealed in the last year the association's former president, Loretta Ryder, received a cash payment of around $12,000.
More than $18,000 was spent on accommodation for Ryder and her family and members of the association's executive spent more than $17,000 on mobile broadband use in six months.
The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations says Whitireia has abused its students' trust.
“That behaviour, that spending, is appalling and it is completely unacceptable and we condemn it,” says David Do.
3 News has been told Whitireia's chief executive Don Campbell is carefully checking the audit before he makes any comment to media.
Likewise the Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce says because there is a police investigation involved it's inappropriate for him to comment at length but he pointed out there is legislation which protects student's contributions to these associations.
Campaigning around the corner from the campus, Labour leader Phil Goff said the misappropriation took vital money away from student's learning.
“To have lost that money that should have gone to students; that's a huge loss and there needs to be accountability,” he says.
The association's website boasts its mission is to make life more comfortable and enjoyable – now the question is being asked, who for?
3 News