How does a school have $500,000 to steal?

Stuff reports:

A former Palmerston North school principal is accused of fraudulently obtaining more than half a million dollars.

Wayne Kevin Codyre is facing 52 charges of obtaining by deception between December 2019 and March 2023, totalling $548,205.

During that time he was principal of Ross Intermediate school.

I can understand someone stealing $500,000 from a private organisation and not being noticed. But I would have thought that a public school has so little discretionary expenditure that it would be damn hard to steal $500,000.

The documents allege he obtained various amounts by deception – from as much as $117,590 to as little as $448.

That sounds like he (allegedly) stole $117,590 in one go. Will be interested in what that purported invoice was for.

In 2024, Stuff reported:

Ross Intermediate’s most recent financial statements said the school made a $76,901 loss for 2022, compared with a $158 surplus the previous year. It made a $150,131 surplus in 2020.

The ministry’s Central deputy secretary Jocelyn Mikaere said the auditor requested a letter of going concern support, which was standard procedure when a school’s working capital position was in a significant deficit position.

Maybe that should have rung warning bells.