The man who once stole $1 million, then went on the run and called broadcaster Paul Holmes live on air threatening to kill himself, is disputing aspects of his latest fraud.

Editorial: To obtain the right answers, it is necessary to ask the right questions. Asking the wrong questions invites only obfuscation or a muddying of the waters.

A "culture of obfuscation" prevailed at South Canterbury Finance before its $1.6b govt bailout, where directors talked about dealing with "smoke and mirrors" and "half truths".

A throwaway comment at a law conference last week by the boss of the Serious Fraud Office has delayed the start of the South Canterbury Finance fraud trial.

The trial of three former heads of South Canterbury Finance in what is alleged to be New Zealand's biggest ever fraud case begins in Timaru today.

A former mayor and lawyer is accused of helping a property developer hide his identity so he could borrow millions from a failed finance company.

The FMA has dropped civil proceedings against four Lombard directors as the failed finance company's receivers have reached a $10 million settlement with the men, their insurers and an unnamed "third party".

Auckland property developer Malcolm Mayer has been sent to jail for 6 years for a $47m mortgage fraud.

Sweeping changes to securities law have undermined the custodial sentences handed out to former directors of Lombard, the Supreme Court has heard.

The banker who stole $18 million from clients is "deeply remorseful and ashamed" about his offending, according to the Parole Board report which confirms his release.

The country's market regulator wants to withdraw a disciplinary complaint against fraudster David Ross.

A victim of an "incompetent" foreign exchange trader whose scheme inflicted losses of about $1.5m says his quality of life took a hit when his "significant" portfolio vanished.

Australian lawyer Julie Read has taken the helm of the Serious Fraud Office at a time when its future has yet to be charted.

A bankrupt property developer who used fronts and false information to borrow money as part of a $50 million loan scheme has been found guilty this morning.

Agency failed to consider key evidence in $1.7 billion South Canterbury Finance investigation.

Police asset freezing action against two jailed Capital + Merchant directors is unprecedented.

A High Court judge has made restraining orders over property linked to two jailed Capital + Merchant Finance directors, with the police looking to eventually seize the assets.

Ponzi-scheme operator David Ross, who committed one of NZ's biggest financial swindles, has been handed more jail time than anyone else to face a Serious Fraud Office prosecution.

The man behind NZ's largest Ponzi scheme has been sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in jail - a punishment deemed too lenient by one of his victims.

Jailed Bridgecorp director Rob Roest still regards himself as innocent, three judges said today as they tossed out his appeal.

A director of failed firm Rockforte Finance has been sentenced to four years in jail while another got 11 months' home detention and 200 hours' community work

A month ago Simon Everett was driving a Lexus. Now, since family company Blacktop Construction went into receivership, he's having to ask for handouts to survive.