Police and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) have confirmed there is no evidence of corruption at Manurewa Marae, and no criminal investigation will proceed.
“Following a detailed review, the SFO concurs with Police findings that there are insufficient grounds to initiate a criminal investigation into serious or complex fraud, including corruption offences. Other potential offences that fall outside the SFO’s remit will continue to be handled by Police through normal processes,” a Police spokesperson said.
The investigation began in June 2024, following allegations that Census 2023 data and Covid-19 vaccination data had been misused at Manurewa Marae to support Te Pāti Māori campaigning. After reviewing the claims, authorities found no proof of criminal activity.
While the corruption inquiry has ended, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) and the SFO are still carrying out an ongoing inquiry into potential privacy breaches. Government agencies also acknowledged that they themselves failed to put proper safeguards in place to protect personal information.
In February, Te Pāti Māori President John Tamihere called the investigation a “witch hunt” against Māori, in particular the Māori at Manurewa Marae and Te Pāti Māori candidates. He says the lack of evidence shows the allegations should not have escalated.
“If there was clear evidence, we’d cop it, but when you’ve had all the king’s horses and all the king’s men come together and try to get the Māori’s, and they haven’t been able to come up with one skerrick of evidence of wrongdoing.
Despite months under a political and media spotlight, Manurewa Marae remain focused on its role as a community hub, with leaders welcoming confirmation that no criminal wrongdoing occurred.
