Siblings took more than $1 million from Maori land trust, the Serious Fraud Office alleges

The trust, which at one point had more than $1 million in it, now shows a balance of only $13.41. Photo / File

A brother and sister are facing 11 fraud charges between them for allegedly putting more than $1 million intended for a land trust into their own bank accounts.

They have been charged in relation to a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) prosecution after the trust for the Maori land they were guardians of was left with just $13.41 following a series of unauthorised payments into their personal bank accounts and family trusts.

Stephen Henare, 60, and Margaret Dixon, 59, face Crimes Act charges of "Theft by person in special relationship" in relation to their roles as trustees for the Parengarenga 3G Trust.

Henare faces six charges while Dixon faces five charges, the SFO said.

Both have been removed as trustees of the P3G Trust.

Henare appeared in the Auckland District Court today and has been remanded on bail. Dixon failed to appear.

Parengarenga 3G is a 511.83ha forestry block of Maori land located in the Taitokerau District in the Far North.

The Parengarenga 3G forest is managed by the Parengarenga 3G Trust.

In June 2012 the siblings and five others were appointed as trustees of the Parengarenga 3G Trust, in place of the Maori Trustee.

Two months later, approximately $1.1 million intended primarily for the management of the land and the forest for the benefit of the owners was transferred from the Maori Trustee to the Parengarenga 3G Trust bank accounts.

A further $54,480 was also obtained by the Trust from the sale of carbon credits.

The SFO alleges that between August 2012 and January 2014 a series of unauthorised payments were made from the Parengarenga 3G Trust bank accounts to the siblings, leaving debts due for the care of the forest unpaid.

By January 2014 there was only $13.41 left of the funds.

It is alleged that Henare, with the involvement of Dixon, intentionally failed to deal with $934,270.30 of the Trust's funds by transferring significant sums of money into various other bank accounts, including their personal accounts and those of their respective family trusts.

It is further alleged that Henare intentionally failed to deal with a further $149,627, without the involvement of Dixon.

SFO Director Julie Read said as trustees, Henare and Dixon were "kaitiaki, guardians".

"They were required to deal with the property in accordance with the requirements of Parengarenga 3G Trust Order and in doing so to ensure the forest thrived for the benefit of all.

"The SFO believes their fraudulent activity has jeopardised an asset which was meant to benefit generations to come."

The defendants will next appear in the Auckland District Court on November 21.