Gilmore takes full blame for qualification mistake

Aaron Gilmore, National Party candidate Christchurch East. Photo / Supplied

National list MP Aaron Gilmore, who this month blamed Parliamentary Service for an online CV which listed him as holding a top financial qualification he did not have, has now taken full responsibility for the matter.

After concerns raised by a political rival, Labour's Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel, Herald inquiries showed Mr Gilmore was not a member of the US Chartered Financial Analysts Institute, as stated on his parliamentary web page.

While the institute said Mr Gilmore was registered as studying towards the qualification, he had not completed it.

Mr Gilmore said last week the error was made when information his office provided was edited by Parliamentary Service.

However, yesterday he said the error, and four others, were made in his own office and he took "full responsibility for those errors".

He also told the Herald it had been confirmed that the information was not sent by him.

"However, there is an email from my secretary saying: 'Here is the information' which had all the errors in it, so that is where the problems have arisen.

"I accept that I should have checked the published information and accept full responsibility for not having done so."

Mr Gilmore said he was not going to take the matter further.

"These things do happen."