“.. The Ministry of Health’s former chief nurse who quit after racking up a massive travel and expenses bill used taxpayer money to charter a yacht, it has been revealed.
Mark Jones would be asked to pay back $1250 after chartering the yacht without ministry approval, it was reported.
Dr Jones resigned abruptly from the ministry the week before Christmas, leaving the same day.
According to information obtained by Radio New Zealand Dr Jones, the ministry’s chief nurse, spent nearly $40,000 over a 16-month period to December, with most other chief advisers and directors spending on average $18,000.
The ministry defended the spending, and said Dr Jones needed to travel widely, but it was understood the overspending was the reason for his resignation.
An investigation into Dr Jones’ expenses by the ministry would now be launched following the revelation he chartered the yacht during a meeting with Australian nurse executives in the Bay of Islands in 2008..”
go to source/story>>Chief nurse ‘used public cash to charter yacht’ | Stuff.co.nz
