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David White / Stuff
Roger Pikia, a prominent tribal leader.
The Serious Fraud Office is understood to have brought charges against two individuals as part of a long-running investigation involving iwi leader Roger Pikia.
The two are due to appear in Auckland District Court next week. Things has learned.
The investigation began nearly four years ago after revelations that $ 775,000 belonging to the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (Tarit), which was chaired by Pikia, had been invested in Ka Ora Ltd, a health food company of which he was a director and previous shareholder.
It was also reported that the small Tahu Whaoa iwi, who also presided over Pikia, had covered the debts of 2.6 million dollars of a bankrupt Tongan forestry company and had agreed to pay another 3.5 million in exchange for control of the company. .
Pikia, a business consultant and adviser to the Maori king, said it had no comment on the charges.
Tarit CEO Eugene Berryman-Kamp also declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for the SFO.
Pikia is also co-chair of the Waikato River Authority, which oversees millions of dollars in grants.
