Former Tauranga City councillor Andrew Hollis charged with 35 tax-related offences
April 17, 2026
Former Tauranga councillor Andrew Hollis is accused of tax evasion and other IRD offences.
Former Tauranga City councillor Andrew Hollis is facing 35 charges related to tax evasion and fraud. The charges, brought by New Zealand's Inland Revenue Department, were revealed following his appearance in the Tauranga District Court. The alleged offences span a period from January 2020 to September 2024, a timeframe that includes part of his tenure as an elected official and the period leading up to the collapse of his gold trading business. This legal challenge marks another chapter in the public life of a figure previously known for his controversial political career.
The specific allegations against the 54-year-old are extensive. Court documents show he faces five charges of evading or attempting to evade the assessment or payment of income tax for the tax years ending between 2020 and 2024. Additionally, Hollis is charged with 27 counts of evading or attempting to evade Goods and Services Tax (GST) between late 2019 and early 2024. The list of charges is rounded out by three counts of knowingly providing false or misleading information with the intent to illegitimately obtain Working for Families Tax Credit payments.
Hollis was elected to the Tauranga City Council in 2019, but his term was marked by significant controversy. He faced widespread calls for his resignation shortly after being elected over social media comments he made supporting the burning of the Treaty of Waitangi. His time on the council was tumultuous, characterized by internal clashes that ultimately led to the government dismissing the elected council in 2020 and appointing commissioners. Following his removal from office, Hollis made unsuccessful bids for public office in a 2021 Western Bay of Plenty District Council byelection and as the New Nation Party candidate for Tauranga MP in 2022.
The timeline of the alleged tax offences coincides with other financial difficulties for Hollis. Some of the alleged offending occurred before his gold trading company, Guardians of Gold Ltd, was placed into liquidation and receivership in September 2025. The business, of which Hollis was the sole director and shareholder, collapsed owing hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of creditors, many of whom were individuals who had invested in precious metals. At the time, customers reported being owed significant sums of cash or gold.
The case against Hollis is now before the courts. Under New Zealand law, convictions for serious tax offences can carry severe penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment. For each offence, a conviction could result in a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $50,000. The legal proceedings will now follow their due course, determining the next steps for the former public official as he answers to these numerous and serious financial allegations.
Source: nzherald