A former school secretary has been jailed today for stealing thousands of dollars from Parkvale School in Hastings.
Tania McCartney has been sentenced at the Hastings District Court to two years, three months for taking $150,000 from the primary school, between 2009 and last year.
The 40 year old earlier pleaded guilty to charges including theft by a person in a special relationship, and using the school's credit card and cheques to obtain pecuniary advantage.
The money was taken to spend on personal items, such as contact lenses, groceries and petrol.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh told the court a total of 33 different transactions were made by Tania McCartney to her personal account and the account of her husband, to cover his business expenses. She also altered the school's accounting software to hide the missing money.