Councillor resigns after $40,000 theft from club

Disgraced Manukau City councillor James Papali'i wants to see more "financial responsibility" in the running of a club from which he was convicted of stealing $40,000.

Papali'i was found guilty on 15 charges of defrauding the Whare Nui Sports Trust of money earmarked for outrigger and waka clubrooms.

He has resigned as a city councillor for the Mangere ward and is due to be sentenced on August 17.

He has since returned $25,000 paid to him as salary, he told the Herald last night.

Papali'i said he accepted the jury's finding but said he believed he had a legitimate claim to the $25,000.

"I have always stood by what we did, what our trust did, and what we are trying to do, building the clubrooms."

He said he would strive to see more financial responsibility among those working to have the club's two-storey building constructed. However, he would not give details.

In the meantime, he would continue working with South Auckland youth, "just doing what I continue to do down there, get youth in to waka and outrigger canoeing".

Local government legislation states that a councillor must be disqualified if convicted of an offence punishable by two years' jail or more. Two of the charges carry maximum 10-year terms.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis said Papali'i had been left with no option but to resign. A byelection is expected in October.