The second defendant in a New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO) prosecution has pleaded guilty to charges relating to her role in a Ponzi scheme involving almost $4 million and more than 55 investors.

Aroha Awhinanui Tuira today entered guilty pleas to two representative charges of obtaining by deception in the Christchurch High Court.

The latest guilty plea follows that of her husband and co-defendant, Thomas Alexander Kokouri Tuira (also known as Alex Tuira), who earlier admitted two representative charges of obtaining by deception.

The offending occurred between May 2014 and May 2021, during which the pair deceptively obtained $3.9 million through 104 transactions. They portrayed themselves as experienced, well-connected investors able to deliver returns for clients, when in reality they were not investing the funds or operating an investment business at all.

Instead, the defendants used a Ponzi-type arrangement, paying some investors using funds from others and spent money on personal and business expenses.

The defendants primarily targeted members of the te ao Māori community and developed close personal relationships with the investors, many of whom had limited prior experience with investing. The fraudulent stratagem included taking advantage of these relationships.

Mr and Mrs Tuira are due to be sentenced on 7 November 2025.