A Christchurch couple has been sentenced for their roles in a Ponzi scheme that swindled about $4 million from more than 55 investors, with a strong focus on Māori communities.
Thomas Alexander Kokouri Tuira, also known as Alex Tuira, received a sentence of six years and four months in the Christchurch High Court after a successful prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office. The court imposed a minimum term, meaning Tuira must serve 45% of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.
His wife and co-defendant, Aroha Awhinanui Tuira, was sentenced to five years and two months in prison.
The couple, who were married at the time of the offenses, pleaded guilty in August to two representative charges of obtaining by deception.
From May 2014 to May 2021, they deceitfully obtained about $3.9 million across 106 transactions through businesses including Ngākau Aroha Investments Limited, Power to Me Tapui Aotearoa Limited, and Mai Gold Limited.
The Serious Fraud Office described the Tuiras as portraying themselves as seasoned, well-connected investors capable of delivering returns, when in fact they did not invest funds or operate a legitimate investment business. Instead, they ran a Ponzi-style scheme, paying some investors with money from newer investors and spending funds on personal expenses.
Their scheme targeted Māori communities, cultivating close personal relationships with investors—many of whom had little prior investing experience—before exploiting those trusted ties.
Investigations began in 2021.
SFO director Karen Chang noted that Ponzi schemes inflict deep and lasting harm, stripping victims not only of their money but also of trust in others. Because the Tuiras pled guilty, the victims avoided a trial, and the sentences today hold the offenders to account for the damage caused.
Chang added that fraud which leverages relationships within a specific community can be especially destabilizing to social bonds and trust, illustrating why this area remains a strategic focus for the SFO.
The Serious Fraud Office expressed gratitude to the witnesses and victims who came forward during the investigation.
