Removed from NZICA register

The former accounting technician who stole more than $80,000 from her mother and two volunteer organisations can no longer practise her trade.

In February, the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants removed Lynn Robertson, of Dunedin, from its register of members after she was convicted last year of stealing more than $50,000 from her mother's accounts before her death in 2011 and stealing more than $25,000 from the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club and the Musselburgh School Parent Teacher Association.

The institute ordered she pay costs of $16,000 and that the decision be published in the Otago Daily Times and in the institute's publication Acuity.

Mrs Robertson accepted her removal from the register, but appealed paying costs and having the decision publicised.

That appeal was dismissed in its entirety in August.

Following her conviction last year, Robertson fought to have her named suppressed, but that application was quashed by the Court of Appeal in December after opposition from police and the ODT.

An institute spokeswoman told the ODT Robertson had exhausted all appeals and the costs and publication orders were final.

''Lynn Robertson has exhausted all avenues of appeal,'' she said.

''When someone is removed from the register they can no longer practise as a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and, in this case, she can't continue to act as an accounting technician.''

While Mrs Robertson could continue to work as an accountant, the institute's decision on her appeal revealed she had lost her status as a tax agent for the Inland Revenue Department.

It is understood Robertson worked in accounting as recently as last year.

Attempts to contact her yesterday were unsuccessful.

Mrs Robertson told the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants her offending arose from a gambling addiction and that she had taken steps to address her problem.

timothy.brown@odt.co.nz

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