For six years Nikole Kororia Chapman claimed a benefit she wasn't entitled to, receiving more than $75,000 in over payments of taxpayers' money.
The 27-year-old Masterton woman pleaded guilty when she appeared before Judge Barbara Morris to benefit fraud charges; four of obtaining by deception and one of using a document to gain pecuniary advantage.
Following the guilty pleas the Ministry of Social Development, which administers benefit payments, withdrew five counts of obtaining by deception.
The summary of facts provided to the Times-Age at the request of Judge Morris, shows Chapman, who was granted a domestic proposes benefit in 2006, had been living in a relationship in the nature of marriage with Issac Anthony Winitana since late 2007. She continued to sign statements saying she was single for six years.
When interviewed in May 2013, Chapman said she was aware she had to notify the ministry if she entered into such a relationship but hadn't let them know "because things were up and down as her partner was not always in employment".
