A charity that hired Melanie Sarah Raumiria Kingi knew she had a conviction for stealing from her employer, but decided to give her a chance.

However, the 46-year-old took advantage of their generosity by stealing more than $800,000 over four years.

Kingi spent the money on household expenses before an addiction took hold in 2023, which saw her gamble no less than $1000 a night on pokie machines, saying winning would give her a “buzz”.

She funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars into bank accounts in her name and that of her husband.

Today, she was jailed in the Hamilton District Court on a charge of theft by a person in a special relationship.

Kingi, through her counsel Mark Jepson, fought to keep her name a secret, suggesting that if her name was printed, it could identify her former employer, who feared a sudden loss of donations if their name was published.

While Judge Garry Collin agreed to suppress the name of the charitable organisation, he said there was no information before him that would see him suppress her name.

“Your name should be published because the community is entitled to know about those who steal from community organisations for their own benefit.

“Transparency, the interest of future employers favours publication.”

He also fired a shot at the gambling institutions that profited from Kingi’s theft, telling them to engage with the charity and arrange to pay the money back.

‘Four bank accounts, an Eftpos card, a Travelex account’

Kingi, who was supported in court by her father and husband, was employed by the charity between 2021 and October 2025 as a senior administrator.

She helped a senior staff member execute daily tasks.

In that role, she assisted the CEO, but as the role developed, Kingi took on more responsibility around the organisation’s bank accounts and finance.

She also gained operating authorisation on a number of their accounts.

In an ASB bank account she shared with her husband, Kingi deposited $490,841.55 between July 1, 2022, and September 30, 2025, with references of “Koha” and “Grateful Volunteers”.

She made further deposits totalling $10,530 into her own Kiwibank account with references including “maara kai” and “refund”.

In a Heartland bank account Kingi shared with her husband, she deposited $100,274.60, and in an ANZ account with her husband, deposited $190,126.77.

Kingi put a total of $791,772.92 into accounts shared with her husband, who isn’t employed or associated with the charity.

There were also ATM withdrawals, when Kingi used the organisation’s petty cash Eftpos card to take out $24,572.50 between January 1, 2022, and October 31, 2025.

She also used the card to top up her Travelex card on five occasions, totalling $7,482.30.

The total amount stolen was $823,827.72.

Kingi declined to comment when arrested.

‘You stole money almost at will’

Judge Collin noted that the charity knew about Kingi’s previous conviction but decided to “give you a chance”.

“They allowed you to work for them notwithstanding your conviction, they gave you a responsible position, eventually as [administration].

“You were given the ability to look after and control financial matters for [charity], which is a big deal.

“As part of that, you had access to their bank accounts. No doubt you were involved in discussions about finance ... and raising of money.”

Melanie Sarah Raumiria Kingi, 46, in the dock of the Hamilton District Court this afternoon. Photo / Belinda Feek

Kingi was in a trusted position, which allowed her to steal money “almost at will”.

“This continued over a long period of time. The offending was calculated and was intended to deceive.

“This is evident from the coding of the withdrawals.”

‘I always felt like s**t’

Judge Collin said Kingi’s offending was “deliberate, organised and pre-meditated”.

Initially, it was used for household expenses, then a gambling and “mild” alcohol addiction emerged.

A pre-sentence report stated Kingi developed a sense of entitlement. It noted that the fraudulent behaviour became like a habit and Kingi stated it never felt good: “I always felt like s**t”.

Judge Collin said: “You understood that you let people down.

“You said the [charity] was a supportive employer, you acknowledge you let your whānau down as well, and everyone affected is picking up the pieces because of the mess and hurt you caused.

“You accept that you do not deserve any sympathy or support and that you have broken the hearts and trust of your employer and whānau.

“I don’t think I could have said it better than you have said it yourself, frankly,” Judge Collin told her.

He said it was relevant to note that there was nothing in Kingi’s upbringing which explained her actions.

“You say your upbringing was a loving and happy one.”

Judge Collin said there was nothing to suggest that her husband was involved in the theft.

“But little is known of him, and he did not talk to the probation service.”

Kingi accepted Judge Collin’s sentence indication last month, which identified a six-year start point.

“I have to say, on reflection, I think I was a year too light. I should have started at seven,” he told her.

He also took into account her previous conviction in 2003 for stealing from a similar charity, which also saw her serve jail time.

After applying discounts, he got down to 64 months, or five years and four months, and left open the possibility of further discounts.

Kingi had sold her home and had $16,000 as reparation for the charity.

However, the charity had written to the court, specifically stating they did not want Kingi to get any credit towards her sentence for any reparation.

Judge Collin agreed and described the amount as “minuscule”.

‘Pokie machines are designed to be addictive’

He also noted Kingi’s comment that she got a “buzz” from winning and that would encourage her to gamble more.

He said it was well known that gambling machines were designed to be addictive.

“Hundreds of thousands of dollars has been stolen from [charity] and poked into the casino pokie machines.

“The exact amount and the exact recipients remain unclear.

“The casino or other gambling institutions are therefore the recipients of stolen money and have profited from your thefts.

“If I could order reparations to the charity from the gambling institutions that have profited from your stealing, I would. But I cannot.

“They should voluntarily engage with [charity] and discuss reimbursements of the money received and stolen by you from [charity].”

Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 11 years and has been a journalist for 22.