'Runaway millionaire' keen for speed

Kara Hurring. Photo / APN

The Rotorua woman dubbed the "runaway millionaire" wants to move through the court case against her as quickly as possible to get back to her daughter and job overseas, her lawyer says.

The case against 32-year-old Kara Hurring - who fled New Zealand in 2009 after a $10 million overdraft facility was mistakenly loaded by Westpac into her partner Hui 'Leo' Gao's account - moved a step forward yesterday with the scheduling of a five-day trial next February.

A date was also set for next month to hear a special application by her lawyer, Simon Lance, to have the theft and money laundering charges dropped.

Mr Lance told the Herald yesterday that Hurring remained keen to return to Hong Kong, where she had a 7-year-old daughter and a job, and wanted the court process over as soon as possible.

The case had been stressful for Hurring, but she was feeling "a little bit better" after the original theft and money laundering charges laid against her were swapped with fresh charges, including two of international money laundering to the value of more than HK$1.5 million ($230,000) relating to activities in Macau.

A further 26 charges of theft to the value of approximately $11,000 were also laid, as well as two counts of attempting to use a document.

Mr Lance would not reveal the grounds of his application, saying he was yet to discuss the matter with Hurring and also waiting to receive "reasonably crucial" information from the authorities relating to the Macau money laundering charges.

"She wants to get the court process dealt with. At least then she'll have options as to where she goes from there. Presently, her thinking is to return overseas at the moment but she can't because of bail conditions.

"She's been waiting to expedite this from day one. She's had a job overseas, she's had a child overseas and here she is sitting around waiting for these things to occur, and lo and behold, after a few months the more serious charges get dropped."

It was reported this month that Hurring and Gao conceived a baby boy after fleeing New Zealand and that Hurring has brought him back here.