Hero's welcome for Huata

A crowd waits to give 'Aunty Donna' a royal reception. Picture / Hawke's Bay Today

Donna Awatere-Huata was given an enthusiastic welcome today after her release from prison on home detention.

About 20 children from the local Bridge Pa kohanga reo (pre-school), near Hastings, lined the driveway of her home waving banners to the disgraced ex-Act MP.

However, the Parole Board would not allow local people to hold a welcome function at the school, Newstalk ZB reported.

Awatere Huata and her husband, Wi Huata, were found guilty in Auckland District Court last August of fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The charges related to over $80,000 taken from the government-funded Pipi Foundation -- set up to help under privileged Maori children.

She was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, while Huata was sentenced to two years.

He was later bailed until the pair appeal their convictions and sentences in October.

When Awatere Huata arrived she did not get out of the car, but waved to the children lined along her drive.

The children then performed a haka for her.

Awatere Huata continued to her house, but returned a short time later, accompanied by her husband Wi, and spoke with the waiting throng of media.

Awatere Huata's sister-in-law Huia Huata said today that children at the kohanga reo wanted to "wish Aunty Donna all the best".

She said everybody had been looking forward to Awatere Huata's homecoming. "Particularly her children who haven't seen her for more than three months.

"So it's been a long time and I spoke with Donna this morning briefly and she was telling me this was the happiest day of her life.

"There's a bit of excitement and buzz around the place at the moment."

Ms Huata said there would be a party there tonight.

"Our nannies and aunties will be at her place waiting for her to arrive. Our community are fully in support of our Aunty Donna coming home."

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB