McClay’s Mind-Blowing Arrogance

Roger McClay. Photo: Richard Robinson as appeared in the New Zealand Herald 13 March 2010

How could a former government minister, Children’s Commissioner and prominent supporter of several charities think it was ok to swindle charities he worked for out of thousands of dollars? What’s happened to honour in New Zealand?

Roger McClay escaped what could have been a seven year jail term by pleading guilty to fraud charges resulting from knowingly claiming mileage costs from two charities he worked for when he used his MP travel perk to fly at at 90% discount. I wonder what part of ‘dishonourable’, ‘disreputable’ and completely ‘unethical’ he didn’t understand?

It’s a massive breach of trust and McClay should be stripped of the Companion of the Queen’s Service Order he received in 2005.

Although McClay originally denied the allegations and was vigorously defended by the former Chief Executive of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, Barry Lucinsky, McClay’s deceit was brazen and significant.

Even though present at board meetings where the charity’s pretty dire financial position was discussed, McClay continued to submit fraudulent travel claims over several years, whilst using his former MP travel perk to fly at just 10% of the usual cost.An article in the New Zealand notes: ” … McClay claimed the ex-MP perk for 47 trips made on charity business after signing a declaration that the travel was for personal reasons.”

The article continued “Over 2 years, he charged the charity $5460.70 in driving mileage, but he had in fact flown and claimed the ex-MP travel rebate.”

If McClay’s lawyer thought he may win some sympathy by noting that, if convicted, the disgraced former Minister would lose his ex-MP travel entitlements worth up to $30,000 a year, it probably fell on deaf ears. “That is not inconsequential for Mr McClay. That is in effect a fine of $30,000 every year for the rest of his life,” said (his laywer). Unbelievable!

“Reading a victim impact statement from World Vision, crown prosecutor Susan Gray said the money would have paid for three water tanks to provide clean water for hundreds of schoolchildren in Third World countries. She said McClay would have been well aware of that.

She said the reputation of World Vision – which relied on the goodwill and support of the public – would take a long time to recover from McClay’s actions.”

Was his sense of entitlement such that he thought he was untouchable and above the law? This wasn’t slopping accounting, or human error, or even a genuine mistake. It was deliberate and premeditated fraud. In effect, theft.

McClay’s lawyer noted ‘… the damage to McClay’s reputation would outweigh any conviction and sentence imposed.‘ I doubt if the charities concerned would agree with him on that.

So, with the guilty pleas, at his sentencing, another designation can be added to the illustrious list of positions, decorations and awards McClay holds or held – that of ‘convicted fraudster’.