Community Detention for $28k Wage Subsidy Fraud Involving Dozens of False Applications

Jacquiline Eve Hunt, 43, submitted wage subsidy applications between April and August 2020, despite not operating a business, not employing any staff, or being self‑employed during that period.

Inland Revenue (IR) confirmed she had not filed any business returns since March 2019 and had no revenue or employees at the time she submitted the applications, making her ineligible for the subsidy.

Hunt submitted four successful applications using her own IR number as both a “self‑employed person” and an “employer,” including the names of three individuals.

In every case, the listed workers were not employed by Hunt, and the people whose names she used did not authorise the applications. All payments were directed into Hunt’s personal bank accounts.

She also submitted 29 unsuccessful applications, including under the names of other self‑employed individuals and an unregistered company.  These applications were all declined.

Judge Murray gave credit for the early guilty pleas and Hunt’s addiction and rehabilitation efforts.

She has previously appeared before the courts.

Reparation of $10,000 was ordered as part of sentencing.

A total of 59 people have been sentenced in wage subsidy cases, and another 47 people are still before the courts as part of MSD’s programme of work on wage subsidy fraud and integrity. Since the scheme started, more than $830 million* in wage subsidies has been repaid.

For more information about the Wage Subsidy Integrity and Fraud Programme please see here. 

*Figures at 31 December 2025