Birthday-scam paua poachers sentenced

• Published date: 19 April 2024
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

Sheryl Maafu (49) and Niuila Maafu (59) were sentenced in the Oamaru District Court on a joint charge of illegally selling pāua under the Fisheries Act, following a successful prosecution by Fisheries New Zealand

The court heard the Maafus sold pāua meals through a Facebook site and obtained customary permits for fictitious birthday events to gather the seafood.

Fisheries NZ district team leader fisheries compliance Ian Henderson said the Maafus admitted illegally selling recreationally gathered pāua through Facebook.

‘‘Sheryl Maafu, who organised the customary authorisations, told us she knew what she was doing,’’ Mr Henderson said.

In May 2023, an intercepted package being couriered from Oamaru was found to contain about 12kg of minced pāua.

Fisheries NZ also became aware of a website owned by Sheryl Maafu called ‘‘Always Kingdom Fundraiser’’ which was advertising meals for sale, including creamed pāua for $10 a meal.

After an investigation was launched, search warrants were executed in June 2023 at two premises in Kakanui and Oamaru and the bank accounts of Sheryl Maafu were examined.

At the Kakanui building, investigators found 139 shucked pāua of which 129 were less than the legal size. At the...