Sky City dirt refuses to go away

By Michele Simpson

Friday 13th October 2000

POSITIVE SPIN: Good news and bad news for Sky City

Listed gaming company Sky City has fended off one lot of corruption allegations but is facing new embarrassment as police launch an investigation into $50,000 missing from the casino after a long-serving manager disappeared suddenly to Australia's Gold Coast.

The timing could not have been worse, as Internal Affairs Minister Mark Burton released a report yesterday clearing Sky City of most of the allegations made by former casino investigation manager Eddie Hauraki over a "culture of dishonesty" among staff.

Sky City general manager of communications Mike Drogemuller confirmed yesterday that one of the casino's managers suddenly disappeared two weeks ago and that the man was being investigated for allegedly falsifying invoices.

The Department of Internal Affairs has been told about the incident and it is understood the police may be attempting to track down the former employee in Australia.

The casino would not release his name, but it is believed he has worked at Sky City since it opened in February 1996.

Mr Burton yesterday released findings from a report about staff theft at the casino. "Sky City met all of its legislative requirements in the way that it handled the allegations," he said.

The investigation was launched in response to New Zealand First leader Winston Peters making allegations in Parliament last month about staff pilfering - information he obtained from Mr Hauraki.

Earlier The National Business Review revealed (March 10) there had been a Sky City investigation into problems at the staff cafeteria, D'Caf, this year.

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