Charity slow to open its books

Chris Cairns' rail-safety foundation has raised $600,000 since it started in 2006 but is struggling to give details of how the money has been spent.

Cairns, a former New Zealand cricket star who now lives in Dubai, was back in New Zealand for Rail Safety Awareness Week and told The Press on Tuesday that the Chris Cairns Foundation was "100 per cent transparent".

Three days later, The Press was still waiting for the foundation to provide all the figures.

Cairns's sister, Louise, was killed in a rail accident at Rolleston in 1993, which led to the formation of the foundation in 2006.

Last year, Cairns walked 1001 kilometres from Auckland to Rolleston to raise funds for his campaign.

The Press asked the foundation for details on how much money has been raised and its expenditure and expenses.

Megan Drayton, the foundation's manager of six weeks, was unable to provide the figures immediately and said she was "in the process of sorting out the books".

"That is one of my roles," she said.

The previous manager, Pat Jackson, left the trust last year and is finishing a business degree in Melbourne.

Drayton revealed on Friday that the foundation had raised about $602,000 about $243,000 in 2007, $290,000 in 2008 and $69,000 so far this year.

"All of this income has been put back into education and rail-safety awareness activities over the past three years," she said.

"The cost of these activities has in many cases been shared with other organisations, such as Toll, KiwiRail, the NZTA (New Zealand Transport Agency) and the police.

"These campaigns have significantly raised the profile of rail safety in New Zealand and have helped contribute to a reduction in both rail incidents and fatalities."

Cairns had not received any remuneration for his work for the foundation, although he was reimbursed for travel and accommodation expenses "as they relate to rail-safety awareness events only". No figures on what was spent on each item were supplied.

The Press contacted the foundation's trustees to see if they had seen accounts.

Sue Foley, head of external relations for Massey University, said she had seen accounts for the present year and had no concerns about the foundation's accounting.

Fellow trustee Neil Wynne, the roading manager for the Central Districts police, said he had seen the accounts, but "I am not helping you any further".

Trustee Kevin Ramshaw, the communications manager for KiwiRail, said he was a recent appointment to the board and was satisfied the foundation "has been appropriately managed in the past and continues to be appropriately managed".

Christchurch lawyer and trustee Paul Dorrance did not return calls.

On Tuesday, Cairns said the information requested would be prepared for The Press. The foundation was "100 per cent transparent", he said.

The Press understands Cairns is setting up a fast-bowling clinic in Dubai. He closed his Christchurch fudge business in 2007.

His marriage, his second, to Carin van den Berg ended last year and she returned to South Africa with their two sons, Bram and Thomas.

His current partner is former Australian basketballer and sports marketing manager Melanie Croser, who he met when playing beach cricket in Australia last year.

Cairns joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL) last year but was suspended in October for failing to disclose an ankle injury. Media reports at the time connected him with alleged match-fixing, but this was denied by his London lawyer, Andrew Fitch-Holland.

A statement in October from the ICL said Cairns, the captain of the Chandigarh Lions, and team-mate Dinesh Mongia had been suspended on disciplinary grounds. Cairns told The Press he did not respond to unsubstantiated rumours.

- © Fairfax NZ News