Police have seized a house, jewellery, cash and a vehicle as they work to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars from convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison.
Convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison's house, jewellery, cash and vehicle have been seized. Photo: supplied
The former general manager at the Ministry of Transport defrauded the department of more than $726,836.
She was convicted and sentenced to three years and seven months in prison.
Harrison has since been deported to the UK and is not allowed to return to New Zealand until March 2020.
The Police Asset Recovery Unit had been investigating Harrison's wrongdoing since July 2016.
The assets that have been "restrained" or seized belonged to her and her husband and include a residential property in the Far North.
Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Murray of the Central Asset Recovery Unit said the assets would total about $620,000 and will go towards recouping the stolen money.
"Ms Harrison's offending was selfish and driven purely by greed and financial gain," he said.
The Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act was used to recover the stolen funds.
Mr Murray said the unit's work showed the Act could be used to recover assets gained in all sorts of criminal activities, not just drug crime.