Woman falsely sells $21k of muttonbirds
A Riverton woman has admitted charges in relation to selling $21,000 of muttonbirds she did not have.
The woman, with interim name suppression, in her 30s, pleaded guilty to 21 charges of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
A court summary of facts says the woman contacted prospective buyers of muttonbirds using sources including text message, email, Facebook messenger and marketplace.
Charging documents show the woman obtained amounts ranging from $350 to $8000, between March and June 2020.
A summary says 21 victims were affected and 17 paid. The woman received $21,570.
Police inquiries revealed she did not have any muttonbirds or the ability to supply them as promised.
When police spoke to the defendant, she admitted that she owed about $18,000 to people who had pre-purchased muttonbirds.
In explanation, she said she knew she should not have spent the money, the summary says.
She went on to say that she felt gutted and embarrassed and wanted to make things right.
On each occasion of the muttonbirds not being delivered, the victims made attempts to contact the defendant to ascertain when they would be supplied.
Initially the defendant conversed with, and advised the victims, that the muttonbirds were going to be delivered and gave excuses for the lateness of the delivery.
She would then stop responding. The birds are mostly sourced from the protected Tı¯tı¯/Muttonbird Islands, around Rakiura/Stewart Island, the summary says.
Rakiura Ma¯ ori have traditional rights to the harvesting and sale of the birds.
The price per bucket of birds ranges from $350 to $500.
Judge John Brandts-Giesen remanded the woman on bail to be sentenced in the Invercargill District Court on May 13, continued the order for interim name suppression and ordered a reparation report.