Nearly all last year's fraud convictions (56) were for people obtaining by deception - "the use of deception or impersonation with the intent of dishonestly obtaining property, goods or services, or other benefit".
However, four convictions were handed down for forgery and counterfeiting, and two for deceptive business/government practices.
Nationally, 13,349 convictions were recorded for fraud in the year ending June 30, 2012, an increase on the previous year.
Ministry of Social Development deputy chief executive Iona Holsted said each year the ministry administered around $16 billion of social assistance.
More than $23 million in benefit fraud was detected last financial year and 714 successful benefit fraud prosecutions were carried out by the ministry.
Ms Holsted said an intelligence unit based in Wellington matched data with six other government agencies to identify and investigate benefit fraud, checking millions of records each year.
Those who stole from taxpayers were taking money from individuals and communities which genuinely needed it, Ms Holsted said.
"Benefit fraud will not be tolerated. Those who take what's not theirs and who meet the threshold for prosecution will be put before the courts."
The Serious Fraud Office uncovered over $2.2 billion of fraud last financial year. The figure encompassed the investigation into South Canterbury Finance, the largest fraud case of its kind. Twenty-one charges were laid against five individuals totalling $1.8 billion. APNZ
Wairarapa fraud convictions
Obtain benefit by deception: 56 (2011/12), 62 (2010/11)
Forgery and counterfeiting: 4 (2011/12), 10 (2010/11)
Deceptive business/government practices: 2 (2011/12), 0 (2010/11)
Other fraud and deception offences: 0 (2011/12), 0 (2010/11)
Total fraud convictions: 62 (2011/12), 72 (2010/11)
