Funding probe means 400 pupils may lose qualifications

The chief executive of the Manaakitanga Trust is Donna Grant. Photo / NZME.

More than 400 performing arts students at Taranaki's Western Institute of Technology face being stripped of their qualifications after being caught up in a second funding investigation relating to Maori-focused courses.

Six staff members have resigned and Western Institute of Technology (WITT) has repaid the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) more than $3.5 million following an investigation into its National Certificate in Maori Performing Arts courses. A probe conducted by forensic accounting firm Deloitte found students were not properly enrolled, attendance records were poorly kept and qualifications granted without verified assessments taking place.

The TEC has also confirmed Deloitte is conducting an investigation into a third Maori education provider - Manaakitanga Aotearoa Charitable Trust, a Rotorua based private training organisation that offers the same level 4 and 6 qualifications as those at the centre of the investigation into WITT.

The CEO of the Manaakitanga Trust is Donna Grant, the former Warriors board member who is the subject of a Serious Fraud Office probe following the discovery of nearly $6 million in overpayments relating to a tourism course provided Whakatane-based Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.

Mrs Grant, the daughter of Sir Howard Morrison, was the head of performing arts at Awanuiarangi, which repaid $5.9 million to the TEC following an investigation that found over 200 students - including 94 players and staff from the Warriors league club - were incorrectly issued certificates stating they had completed the Hei Manaaki Maori tourism course.

Warriors club members devoted just one day to a course that should have taken 18 weeks to complete. Certificates from the Hei Manaaki course were also granted to volunteers who helped out at the 2013 Te Matanini national haka championships in Rotorua - many of whom did not even know they had been enrolled. In total 217 certificates were withdrawn.

The course also continued to be funded for 36 weeks despite being shortened to 18 weeks.

Mrs Grant resigned her position at Awanuiarangi and was subsequently referred to the Serious Fraud Office. Her lawyer Richard McIlraith said last month she was "absolutely confident she has done nothing wrong and is happy to co-operate" [with the SFO].

A prominent figure in kapa haka and Maori performing arts, Mrs Grant was Sir Owen Glenn's sole representative on the five-person Warriors board. She was also the driving force behind the Warriors Foundation, the club's now defunct charity arm, which delivered the Hei Manaaki course to the club's members. She recently stepped down from the club's board and was on Monday replaced by Bill Birnie.

Her husband, Anaru Grant, is the chairman of Te Arawa Kapa Charitable Trust, which ran the 2013 kapa haka champs and delivered the Hei Manaaki course twice in Rotorua. Deloitte also referred those courses to the SFO. Mr Grant is also a trustee of the Manaakitanga Trust.

The WITT is not related in any way to Mrs Grant or her husband.

The WITT investigation, which highlighted a lack of academic and financial oversight, found courses offered by the institute's Te W?nanga M?ori had been over-funded to the tune of $3,688,573.

An executive director and five W?nanga staff resigned during an investigation that began in May following a complaint.

A total of 347 students who received level six qualifications between 2009 and 2013 will have their qualifications rescinded and a further 56 level four students will be re-assessed and may also have their qualifications rescinded.

All affected students would be offered the chance to repeat the course for free or will be granted refunds, a WITT statement said.

The story so far

September 6: The Herald reveals the Warriors were caught up in an investigation into the funding of a Maori tourism course completed by players and staff
Oct 2: The investigation confirms that Warriors club members were granted certificates after completing just one day of an 18 week course. Course provider Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi returns $5.9 million in over funding relating to the course. Donna Grant, a Warriors board member and Awanuiarangi's director of performing arts, resigns from the Wananga and is referred to the Serious Fraud Office.
Oct 10: Mrs Grant is replaced on the Warriors board by Bill Birnie
Oct 11: A second investigation uncovers similar overpayments at the Western Institute of Technology (WITT) in New Plymouth relating to Maori Tourism courses.
Yesterday: The TEC confirms it is investigating a second educational organisation linked to Donna Grant and her husband Anaru. Rotorua-based Manaakitanga Aotearoa Charitable Trust offers the same performing arts qualifications at the centre of the WITT investigation.