Sir Ngatata Love's lawyer Colin Carruthers QC says the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) theory against his client is wrong, with a key agreement placing no financial cost on the Wellington Tenths Trust. The former leading Treaty of Waitangi negotiator and academic is on trial in the High Court at Wellington, accused of obtaining funds by deception, or alternatively of obtaining a secret commission.The charges relate to allegations that Love showed favour to Auckland property developer Redwood, and ...

The Serious Fraud Office says the guilty plea yesterday by an Auckland Council manager to corruption charges shows the dangers in not questioning a culture of gratuities. Barrie Kenneth James George, 69, this morning at the High Court at Auckland pleaded guilty to two charges of accepting bribes as a public official when he took gifts worth $103,580 between 2005 and 2012. The gifts included cash, and lavish overseas holidays for George and his family. SFO Director, Julie Read welcomed the guilty plea...

Donald John Hancox, former executive officer at Upper Hutt College, has apologised for fleecing the school over seven years as he was sentenced to Mr Hancox has been sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment
Hancox, 68, of Carterton, who worked at the college for 20 years, pleaded guilty to 10 criminal charges of obtaining $375,000 by deception over a seven-year period during which he was the school's executive officer. The role gave him responsibility for the financial...

A Dunedin lawyer has today admitted being behind a Ponzi scheme where he stole $2.8 million from clients over 21 years.
John David Milne, a 79-year-old lawyer from Dunedin, admitted the long-term fraud on the morning his Christchurch District Court trial was set to begin.He pleaded guilty to 34 charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) that included theft by a person in special relationship and misappropriation of funds.

A summary of facts will be ready for when Milne is...