Former Covid response lead jailed for stealing $1.8 million

Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Tue 2 Dec 2025, 6:01pm

In this story Māori Wardens

Alister Thorby has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million in Covid-19 response funding. The former district health board employee used the money, intended for quarantine facility security, to purchase a home, vehicles, and overseas travel. He was arrested at Auckland Airport in July 2022.

How they headlined it

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1. NZ HeraldTue 2 Dec 2025, 3:37pm

   Former Covid response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8 million from DHBs (opens in new tab)

2. StuffTue 2 Dec 2025, 3:55pm

   ‘Calculated offending’: Man who stole $1.8m in MIQ funds jailed (opens in new tab)

3. RNZTue 2 Dec 2025, 4:40pm

   Former Covid-19 response lead Alister Thorby stole $1.8m DHB funding during pandemic (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesTue 2 Dec 2025, 5:28pm

   Ex-DHB employee jailed for stealing Covid funding (opens in new tab)

5. 1News via RNZTue 2 Dec 2025, 6:01pm

   Former Covid response lead jailed after stealing $1.8m of DHB funds (opens in new tab)