A woman who stole nearly $450,000 from a prominent Auckland couple could not be sentenced as planned today as the presiding judge knew her victims.

An Auckland businesswoman accused over a $9.2 million mortgage ramping scheme is expected to enter a plea at her next appearance.

Internal Affairs Minister and Napier MP Chris Tremain has requested a report into how a British killer managed to obtain a New Zealand passport issued in the name of a severely brain-damaged Hastings man.

A management restructure at Immigration New Zealand will result in 50 branch and regional managerial positions being disestablished.

A convicted killer who stole the identity of a brain-damaged man appeared in an Australian court several times before police realised who he really was.

A British man, who escaped UK jail after stabbing his aunt 70 times, has been living in NZ, where he stole a disabled man's identity

A widow broke down as she told a court that her first holiday without her husband of 40 years was ruined by an internet scam.

A former North Island mayor has applied for the High Court to dismiss some of the charges he is facing in a Serious Fraud Office case.

A Vatican official already under investigation in a purported money-laundering plot involving the Vatican bank was arrested yesterday in a separate operation.

More than half a decade after authorities began probing the failed Five Star Group, founder Neill Williams has pleaded guilty to the last of the charges he faced.

The last men standing from Dominion Finance have now pleaded guilty but could still face further court action if authorities continue with their civil case against the firm's directors and seek penalties of up to $500,000 from each of them.

Dominion Finance and North South Finance directors Rick Bettle and Vance Arkinstall have pleaded guilty to five Securities Act charges in the High Court.

The elderly accountant - who has been declared bankrupt twice since age 60 - was sentenced to three years, seven months in jail earlier this year.

An accounts clerk took advantage of her boss' wife's cancer when she stole more than $370,000 and spent it all on holidays in Australia, a court has been told.

Rick Bettle has resigned from the board of Diligent Board Member Services, as the trial for his role at failed lender Dominion Finance looms.

Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper says he's shattered by news the Taupo District Council is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office.

Convicted fraudster Tracy Hibberd will not appeal her conviction or sentence. Hibberd, 35, is serving an eight-month home-detention sentence for faking her early childhood teaching diploma.

Convicted $17 million fraudster Michael Swann was told at a parole hearing yesterday "there was light at the end of the tunnel".

David Ross' out-of-pocket investors expressed relief when the alleged Ponzi-schemer was arrested and charged yesterday, but he was bailed back to his luxury home.

The former Lombard directors, including Sir Douglas Graham, are heading to the Supreme Court over their convictions for making false statements in a prospectus.

An email has been doing the rounds with a PDF claiming to be from the United States Lottery Board, in conjunction with President Barack Obama's campaign team, telling people they have won US$920,000.

Belgrave Finance director Stephen Smith has been sentenced to four years in jail.

Cyber fraudsters sent a fake death certificate to try to dupe a lovestruck Kiwi woman into sending money overseas