Serious Fraud Office could be looking at cyclone grant fraud

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Serious Fraud Office with neither confirm nor deny if it is investigating cases of fraud here around misuses of the Government’s recent cyclone recovery business grants.

Earlier this week, the SFO issued a new strategic focus, listing misappropriation of targeted Government funding (including emergency recovery or rebuild) as on of seven key focus areas.

Trust Tairāwhiti, which was appointed to distribute cyclone recovery business grants from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, has previously stated is was aware of four suspected fraudulent applications to the Government’s Cyclone Recovery Fund for the Tairāwhiti region.

Those matters, relating to a combined $70,124, had been referred to the police and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Responding to The Gisborne Herald yesterday, a Police spokesperson said we should contact the SFO.

A SFO spokeswoman said SFO did not comment about complaints or investigations, including whether it has received a complaint about a person or organisation or whether an investigation is underway.

“The misappropriation of targeted government funding related to recovery or rebuild is a focus area. This does not necessarily mean we have received any complaints, opened any investigations or that we will investigate all complaints received that relate to this area. Any complaints or referrals we receive will be assessed against our statutory criteria, including the scale of the crime, its impact on victims, its complexity and the degree of public interest.”