State tenant 'owned two properties'

Allan Wilkins. Photo / Martin Sykes

A man is facing allegations he lived off the taxpayer in state housing while he was a landlord owning two properties.

Allan Wilkins, a beneficiary, allegedly lived in two state houses - first in the city centre then in Orakei - over a period of three years.

But Housing New Zealand claims the 52-year-old owned properties in Wiri and Papakura, which he rented out during that time.

Wilkins appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday charged with using a document to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

He has denied the charge.

Judge David McNaughton said the essence of the case was that the document Wilkins completed to get a state house did not disclose his true income or assets to Housing New Zealand.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years' jail.

The housing authority claims Wilkins lived in flat 4c at 15 City Rd in the heart of the CBD, then at a large Orakei state property.

The Orakei house at 20 Te Arawa St is surrounded by the country's most expensive collection of state houses.

Wilkins is a director of Make It and Thought Box Consultancy, associated with Minute Book Financial whose official address was given in court as 20 Te Arawa St - a house QV lists as being worth $660,000.

The Crown says during the three years that Wilkins was living in the two Housing NZ Corporation places and receiving big rent subsidies, he also owned 149 Browns Rd at Wiri and 2 Sheehan Ave in Papakura.

The Wiri property is valued at $260,000 and the Papakura house is estimated at $200,000.

Dale Dufty, prosecuting, said more charges would be laid against Wilkins over his tenancies which had defrauded the state of more than $68,000.

Court records on the initial charge allege Wilkins defrauded the state of $68,494. Mr Dufty said he had deliberately failed to declare income and assets in completing an official document.

The $68,494 is the amount of money Housing NZ calculated Wilkins had received as rental subsidies over the three years.

Maurice Coughlan appeared for Wilkins.

Judge McNaughton ordered Wilkins to reappear on October 14.