Former Govt minister McClay appears in court

Roger McClay arriving at court this morning. Photo / NZPA

Former Government minister Roger McClay appeared in court today to face charges of obtaining or using a document to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

The 56 charges relate to alleged offending involving $26,000 between November 2005 and December 2008. An additional charge was today withdrawn.

At Auckland District Court today, Defence lawyer Guyon Foley did not enter a formal plea but said that his client denied the allegations against him.

The former National Party politician was bailed to reappear in court on April 23.

He made no comment as he left the court, accompanied by his son, Tim.

The court was full, with a large media contingent present.

The Weekend Herald revealed in December that McClay was being investigated for allegedly using his ex-MP perk of taxpayer-funded flights on business trips, then claiming driving mileage from charities he worked for.

Detectives executed search warrants on Mr McClay's Auckland home and seized financial records from Keep New Zealand Beautiful - of which he was the chairman - Heart Children New Zealand and World Vision.

Staff and board members were also interviewed as part of the police inquiry.

McClay allegedly invoiced the charities for the cost of driving to engagements, but took taxpayer-funded flights instead.

As a former MP elected before 1999, he is entitled to a 90 per cent subsidy for 12 domestic return flights each year.