Four charged in alleged $4.2m bribery scheme involving Auckland housing projects

Four people have been charged with corruption and bribery of an official in relation to more than $4.2 million in alleged bribes. The defendants include a former Kāinga Ora official, a former Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC) official, and two construction company owners. The charges involve government-funded contracts worth over $26.3 million for two housing projects and a minor works project delivered between March 2020 and March 2024.

Investigators allege the group used WeChat and Gmail to communicate and inflate project invoices before submitting them to Kāinga Ora and TRC. The former Kāinga Ora official allegedly received more than $2.6 million through 46 payments into five bank accounts, plus more than $507,000 in credits for a family home.

An additional $1 million in bribes was allegedly allocated for the former TRC official, but the former Kāinga Ora official allegedly kept over $900,000 of that sum. This left the TRC official with $171,250 in payments and gifts.

Kāinga Ora chief executive Tracey Taylor said the agency was "deeply concerned" by the allegations and noted the individual had left the organisation some time ago. SFO Director Karen Chang said, "The building of our homes should not be taken lightly". The four defendants are scheduled to make their first court appearance on 21 January 2027.

Where reports differ

• One report states the total alleged bribes were $4.3 million, while others state $4.2 million.

Compiled from reports by Stuff, RNZ, 1News and NZ Herald.