Betrayal on the Field: Kids’ Rugby Manager Exposed After Stealing Fundraiser Money
By Lions Roar News Investigative Desk (Abstracted from the New Zealand Herald)
LOWER HUTT, NEW ZEALAND (December 30, 2025) – A community is reeling from a “disgusting” breach of trust after a woman who managed a children’s rugby team was revealed to have stolen thousands of dollars meant for a team trip. Marise Martin, who was previously protected by interim name suppression, can now be named following a successful legal challenge by the media.
The betrayal came to light after parents of a Hutt Valley junior rugby team discovered that money they had spent months fundraising was not used for its intended purpose, leaving children without basic necessities during a 2022 tournament.
🛑 The “Heartbreaking” Deception
In 2022, Martin managed a group of approximately 15 children for a regional rugby tournament. Families believed they had raised around $12,000 through hard work and community donations. However, the exact figure remains a mystery because Martin failed to keep adequate records.
The Scheme:
- Personal Gain: Instead of placing the funds in a designated club account, Martin directed parents to deposit money into her personal bank account.
- Struggling on the Road: During the trip, funds suddenly “ran out.” Parents were forced to pay out of their own pockets for food and bedding.
- Missed Opportunities: The children were unable to participate in extra activities because the fundraiser money had vanished.
One grandfather, Craig Charleton, told reporters he personally handed over nearly $3,000 during the trip, believing he was helping the whole team. “I thought I was doing it for the kids,” he said.
⚖️ Sentencing and Past Crimes
Martin appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court earlier this year, where she pleaded guilty to theft. While the original missing amount was suspected to be much higher, the court-confirmed theft was revised to $1,780 after Martin produced some receipts for legitimate expenses.
The Sentence:
- Punishment: Judge David Laurenson sentenced Martin to six months of community detention.
- Electronic Monitoring: She will be subject to an electronically monitored curfew.
- Restorative Justice: Martin indicated a willingness to attend restorative justice and had reportedly attempted to pay back $3,000 before the final theft figure was finalized.
A Pattern of Fraud: This was not Martin’s first brush with the law. In 2021, she was convicted for stealing nearly $20,000 worth of gift cards from a supermarket where she was employed. At the time, she claimed she and her partner were struggling to make ends meet.
📢 Community Reaction: “It Cuts Deep”
Victims of the fraud expressed relief that Martin can finally be named, hoping it prevents others from falling victim to similar schemes.
“I just want people to understand that sometimes your friends and people that you trust can take advantage of you,” said parent Jacqueline Crumlish. “It’s such a hard pill to swallow.”
Another parent, Claire Taylor, added that the emotional toll far outweighed the financial loss: “When you invite people into your life like that and then you find out this, it cuts pretty deep.”
