Awatere-Huata tax charges dropped

Donna Awatere-Huata

Tax-avoidance charges against disgraced former MP Donna Awatere-Huata were withdrawn in the Hastings District Court today.

Awatere-Huata was charged in June by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for failing to file a tax return for the financial years ending in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

IRD lawyer Daniel Kerr said the charges were to be withdrawn because all the returns had been belatedly filed.

In an unrelated case, the former Act MP her husband, Wi Huata, were found guilty last year of fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to more than $80,000 taken from the Pipi Foundation for under-privileged Maori children.

Awatere-Huata, whose occupation is listed as "former parliamentarian", was released from prison in May for home detention at Bridge Pa.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY