Bay of Plenty beneficiaries have ripped off the welfare system by more than $700,000 in a month - the second-highest value of all the regions in the country.
A total of 68 people have been investigated by the Ministry of Social Development in July 2015, new figures show.
Of those, 29 people were found to have been receiving overpayments of an average of $24,535, leading to a grand total of $711,523 of benefits paid out in a single month to people no longer entitled to them.
The ministry said it was now working with those found guilty of welfare fraud to pay outstanding costs back.
Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust social services manager Piki Russell dealt with beneficiaries every day and said only a small number would intentionally try ripping off the system because of greed.