Christchurch Couple Keeps $40K After Finding $232K in Roof

When electricians pulled back the insulation in a Christchurch ceiling in May 2022, they found five dust-covered plastic bags stuffed with $232,440 in cash. The homeowners didn't hesitate—they called police right away.

The couple had bought their home just six months earlier and had no idea the money was there. Police investigations couldn't identify who hid the cash or when it was stashed in the roof space.

Authorities believed the money came from criminal activity, likely drug dealing, based on the denominations and condition of the bills. Under New Zealand's Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act, the police commissioner sought to forfeit the entire sum to the Crown.

The couple opposed losing everything, arguing they had a legal claim since the money was found on their property. But they never challenged the finding that the cash was probably from illegal sources.

The Bright Side

Instead of a costly court battle, both sides reached a settlement that Judge Osborne called a win for everyone involved. The Crown gets $192,440 to forfeit, and the couple receives $40,000 for doing the right thing.

The judge highlighted what made this case special: the couple were "wholly innocent citizens" who acted with complete integrity. They reported the discovery despite the stress of wondering if criminals might come looking for their hidden stash.

Justice Osborne pointed out a crucial principle that guided his approval of the settlement. If honest finders get nothing for turning in suspicious money, it creates the wrong incentives for society.

"If the rules are weighted too heavily against the finder, they will encourage dishonesty," the judge wrote in his decision issued Tuesday. The police commissioner formally acknowledged the couple's honesty, the anxiety the discovery caused them, and even the costs they incurred making security changes to their home afterward.

The case sets an important precedent: doing the right thing gets recognized, even when the stakes are high and keeping quiet might seem tempting.

Their reward proves that integrity still pays in ways that matter more than any hidden stash of cash ever could.