Former manager of the Hastings Sports Centre Opal Taylor, pictured in 2010. She was charged with fraud in 2017.

The employee who stole $500,000 from Hastings District Council can be named.

Manager of Hastings Sports Centre Opal Taylor pleaded guilty in Hastings District Court on Tuesday.

Taylor, 60, who ceased working for the council this year, pleaded guilty to 14 charges of fraud.

MARTY SHARPE/STUFF Taylor managed the Hastings Sports Centre until earlier this year.

The alleged offending started in 2004. The 14 charges involve the employee allegedly using a tax invoice or statement with the intent to dishonestly obtain a pecuniary advantage.

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Each charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

She was granted interim name suppression when she appeared in court earlier last month. Name suppression was continued when she failed to appear due to illness on August 29.

Defence lawyer Bill Calver said Taylor admitted to obtaining a pecuniary benefit only for a small part of the total sum.

Name suppression lapsed on Tuesday. She was granted bail until September 26.

A council spokeswoman said "internal council processes disclosed some irregularities in invoices presented to council for payment in early March 2017".

"Following further internal investigations the matter was passed to the police," she said.

The spokeswoman said no other staff were involved and as a result of the prosecution council had introduced additional audit processes and controls.

"Council has zero tolerance toward fraudulent use of council funds and assets," she said.