New Zealand's first slavery trial has entered a 5th and intended last week with a Hastings agricultural contractor claiming accusers were offered money and permanent residency to lie against him.
The claims were by 65-year-old Joseph Auga Matamata, also known as Viliamu Samu, under cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Clayton Walker late on the second day of his evidence in a Napier High Court trial which started on February 10.
Matamata alleged immigration officers had offered money and permanent residence for the accusers to lie in court.
"They tried to get my niece to say the same thing," he said, but the claims of abuse and assaults were lies, he said, reiterating claims they were all too lazy to work for the money they wanted in New Zealand.
Clayton questioned Matamata whether any witnesses had been asked about claims of corruption.