Councillor convicted for tax offences

A South Wairarapa district councillor and has been convicted and fined $800 for failing to file GST and income tax returns.

Peter March and his wife and business partner, Heather March, appeared at Masterton District Court yesterday for sentencing after each earlier pleaded guilty to 20 charges related to tax offences committed between 2002 and 2005.

The couple run a cafe.

Counsel for the couple Jock Blathwayt said with running a business and his duties as a district councillor, March had been extremely busy and he had had a mental block.

"He had got behind dealing with everything," he said.

- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE (MASTERTON)