Ex-Balloons worker charged

A former employee of Balloons over Waikato Charitable Trust Board has been charged by police for abusing her position to allegedly take more than $10,000 from the non-profit organisation.

Karen Wright is to appear in the Hamilton District Court on April 1, just a few days after this year's Balloons over Waikato festival, charged with using a document three times and accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes.

Ms Wright could not be reached for comment yesterday but the Waikato Times understands the Cambridge woman was assistant general manager of the trust when she allegedly began stealing from it in July last year.

The alleged theft involved Ms Wright paying herself larger amounts than she was entitled to and direct crediting her bank accounts with Balloons over Waikato funds, during a six-month period. It's understood she was sacked in January this year when the alleged fraud was discovered. By then she had allegedly stolen $10,700.

Balloons over Waikato general manager Michele Connell referred the Times to Trust chairman John Makgill for comment.

Mr Makgill said Ms Wright would "have her day in court" next month.

"It does include a problem that we had with her over Balloons.

"It has not effected Balloons at all. We will run an event that will absolutely be the same as last year.

"The (alleged) offending has not caused Balloons any problem in that area at all."

Balloon festivals first began in Hamilton in 1988 and in late 1999 the Balloons over Waikato Charitable Trust was established as the governing body to provide new direction for the festival.

The 2010 event, which starts next Wednesday, will be the trust's 10th festival.

- © Fairfax NZ News