AUT Resignation Among Allegations
The former Dean of Dunedin's cathedral has resigned from his latest role as chief executive of AUT's business innovation centre in the face of "possible accounting discrepancies". More than $500,000 is believed to be missing from the government-funded Auckland University of Technology. Rev Jonathan Kirkpatrick, who is also the former lover of ex-Labour MP Tim Barnett, resigned in relation to "possible accounting discrepancies", AUT spokeswoman Barbara Bilcich said. She said an internal investigation lead to the discovery and the matter has been forwarded to the police. AUT took a civil case against Kirkpatrick to the High Court at Auckland yesterday though the university would not comment on of what was being pursued. AUT has ordered an urgent audit and staff are keeping tight-lipped over the details except to say that police are investigating. Kirkpatrick was a Reverend and Priest in Charge at St Alban's Church in Balmoral, in centra