SFO publishes Annual Report for 2024/25

“This year’s results reflect the dedication and agility of our team in responding to increasingly complex threats to New Zealand’s financial and economic wellbeing,” says SFO Chief Executive and Director Karen Chang.

Throughout 2024/25, SFO prosecutions resulted in the conviction of 10 defendants across 8 different cases, involving a total of 140 charges.

The SFO’s caseload included a combined $174.5 million in alleged fraud charges across 23 active prosecutions involving serious fraud and corruption.

“These are difficult cases which are of critical importance. We strive to direct our specialist resources towards the cases that will achieve the greatest impact,” says Ms Chang.

Other highlights for the year included significant growth in demand for services and guidance from the SFO’s Counter Fraud Centre; refreshing the agency’s Strategic Areas of Focus; launching a new national Foreign Bribery campaign and reporting tool; developing a Long-term Insights Briefing focused on detection of fraud and corruption; and making progress towards the Anti-Corruption Taskforce pilot launched in July.

The SFO also continued to strengthen its relationships with domestic and international stakeholders, including representing New Zealand globally and fulfilling national commitments in relation to fraud and corruption.

“One of the year’s results I am most proud of was the feedback we received in the Te Taunaki Public Service Census, with 100% of our team agreeing that the SFO is working towards the long-term good of New Zealand, and that this is important to them. We also recorded 0% rates of bullying and harassment, and 0% for discrimination. These are exceptional results that reflect our organisation as safe, principled, and united in purpose,” says Ms Chang.