The Otahuhu Rugby Junior Football Club’s (ORFC) Under 14 rugby team is under scrutiny following an unresolved debt of $14,120 for food and accommodation incurred during their stay at the St Therese Retreat in September 2023. 

The local hotel stated on Friday afternoon, informing the public of their concern. 

In the statement, the local hotel claimed that despite repeated promises from the club's representative Jamie Hu’akau to settle the outstanding balance, the debt remains unpaid and efforts to resolve the matter have been unsuccessful.

The debt stems from the team’s participation in the PM’s Cup 2023, where the ORFC’s Under 14 team toured Samoa and stayed at St Therese Retreat at Leauvaa. 

According to the statement, the team stayed at the facility for several days, and the total cost for accommodation and meals reached $14,120.

Jamie Hu’akau, who led the touring party, assured the retreat management that payment would be made promptly upon returning to New Zealand. However, when the St Therese management followed up, Hu’akau provided what have since been described as "fake copies" of international payment confirmations. 

Further attempts to collect the debt were met with repeated excuses and delays, leading the retreat to seek legal assistance to recover the funds.

The statement reads, "These unkept promises when followed up, resulted in fake copies of International Payment Confirmation. " 

"She made excuse after excuse. What made matters worse is that we reached out to the Executive Members of the ORFC, but they simply washed their hands and didn’t want anything to do with this debt although it is under the name of the ORFC. 

Despite numerous attempts to contact the executive members of the Otahuhu Rugby Junior Football Club, the hotel management claims that the club has not taken any responsibility for the outstanding debt, even though the debt is officially listed under the name of the ORFC. 

The club's failure to address the matter has left St Therese Retreat in a difficult financial position, with mounting legal expenses adding to the burden of the unpaid debt.

"We have had to incur more expenses by paying lawyers to try and collect this debt. It has been over a year since we have been chasing this debt while these people are running around like nothing is wrong."

In the absence of an official response from the Otahuhu Rugby Junior Football Club, St Therese Retreat has had no choice but to make their frustration public, warning others who may have dealings with Jamie Hu’akau to be cautious.

"So if you have dealings with Jamie Hu’akau, just be aware that she is a complete liar and fraudster. And shame on the ORFC for staying silent on the matter and bringing shame to their Club."

As the situation continues to unfold, calls for greater accountability within the Otahuhu Rugby Junior Football Club have emerged. 

Local community members have expressed their disappointment in the club’s handling of the matter, with some calling for a public apology and action to settle the debt. Many feel that the club’s failure to take responsibility undermines the values of fair play and integrity that rugby clubs are meant to uphold.

Efforts to obtain comments from representatives of the Otahuhu Rugby Junior Football Club were unsuccessful at the time of publication.