Nice job at these charities

Stuff reports:

A Charities Service investigation into the Neurological Foundation and its former boss found evidence of “gross mismanagement” as it uncovered its outgoing executive director was paid to spend hundreds of days on the golf course. 

The investigation found Max Ritchie spent 271 paid working days over four years playing golf, according to documents obtained through the Official Information Act by the New Zealand Herald. This was in addition to the standard 20 days of paid annual leave.

Incredible.

The 2015 investigation was launched following complaints from employees, and found although there was evidence of gross mismanagement, the charity, which was founded in 1971 and funds research and education, had “not committed serious wrongdoing in respect of unlawful use of funds” regarding Ritchie’s agreed-upon additional annual leave arrangement.

So not illegal, just greedy.

The Charities Service report shows investigators looked into claims that Ritchie would “very frequently come into the office for an hour or two in the morning to check his emails and then would leave the office for the rest of the day to play golf”. Staff members had to make excuses to people who phoned for him, one complainant claimed. 

An informant provided records from Ritchie’s favourite club to corroborate his whereabouts. “After receiving these, Charities Services analysed this information which shows consistent and frequent golf playing,” the report said. 

A failure in governance that he was allowed to get away with this.

UPDATE: To his credit Mr Ritchie has responded with his views in the comments. Worth reading to get a complete picture.