The former building manager of luxury high-rise apartment tower Metropolis says a Serious Fraud Office inquiry has found nothing untoward.

A previously unnamed defendant in the latest failed finance company case can now be identified as a Auckland property developer.

The NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants brought disciplinary proceedings against a jailed and bankrupt finance company director - who is no longer a member.

A man who duped a family into buying properties will spend Easter in jail after attempt for an appeal against his sentence failed this morning.

Two former directors of a Wellington gas retail company have been found guilty of fraud charges over $17 million worth of offending.

The country's longest-running employment case has been won by Radio New Zealand, the broadcaster is reporting.

The man who once stole $1 million, then went on the run and called broadcaster Paul Holmes live on air threatening to kill himself, is disputing aspects of his latest fraud.

Editorial: To obtain the right answers, it is necessary to ask the right questions. Asking the wrong questions invites only obfuscation or a muddying of the waters.

A "culture of obfuscation" prevailed at South Canterbury Finance before its $1.6b govt bailout, where directors talked about dealing with "smoke and mirrors" and "half truths".

The Serious Fraud Office trial of South Canterbury Finance's chief executive and two of the failed firm's directors is due to begin in Timaru on Wednesday.

Defence denies former mayor helped form a plan to solicit funds in contravention of Belgrave Finance's trust deed.

A former mayor and lawyer is accused of helping a property developer hide his identity so he could borrow millions from a failed finance company.

The FMA has dropped civil proceedings against four Lombard directors as the failed finance company's receivers have reached a $10 million settlement with the men, their insurers and an unnamed "third party".

Auckland property developer Malcolm Mayer has been sent to jail for 6 years for a $47m mortgage fraud.

Sweeping changes to securities law have undermined the custodial sentences handed out to former directors of Lombard, the Supreme Court has heard.

The banker who stole $18 million from clients is "deeply remorseful and ashamed" about his offending, according to the Parole Board report which confirms his release.

The country's market regulator wants to withdraw a disciplinary complaint against fraudster David Ross.

A victim of an "incompetent" foreign exchange trader whose scheme inflicted losses of about $1.5m says his quality of life took a hit when his "significant" portfolio vanished.

Australian lawyer Julie Read has taken the helm of the Serious Fraud Office at a time when its future has yet to be charted.