Former Health Board Manager Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges in New Zealand
A former senior manager at the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) has pleaded guilty to corruption charges after receiving more than $258,000 in undisclosed payments from medical equipment and software companies. Garry Gorham appeared in court on March 18, 2026, and entered guilty pleas to three charges of accepting gifts by an agent and one charge of disclosing official information, according to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
Details of the Case
The SFO investigation revealed that Gorham received $223,112 from two medical equipment suppliers: Alpine Medical Hardware Limited and Device Technologies New Zealand. Both companies supplied equipment to the ADHB. He also admitted to receiving approximately $35,428 from Scotland-based Newgate Technology Limited and/or New Zealand company Technology Solutions Industry Limited, which provided medical software to the ADHB, in exchange for disclosing official information on six occasions between April 2012 and August 2014.
In return for these payments, Gorham assisted the companies with ADHB business and disclosed confidential information. He failed to disclose the payments to his employer, despite being obligated to do so.
SFO Response and Concerns
SFO Director Karen Chang emphasized the seriousness of the offenses. “New Zealanders must have confidence that procurement decisions in the public sector are not influenced by personal gain, particularly where health and safety could be impacted,” Chang stated. “Mr Gorham put his own financial interests above the patients he was employed to serve. This was an egregious breach of the trust placed in him by his employer and the public.”
Chang further noted that such behavior undermines trust in government and public services, distorts fair decision-making, and creates an uneven playing field for other suppliers.
Previous Conviction and Sentencing Timeline
In October 2025, William MacKenzie, director of Alpine Medical Hardware, was sentenced to four months’ community detention for his role in the bribery and corruption case. The SFO found that payments were made as inducements or rewards for Gorham to favor Alpine, including placing orders and approving invoices.
The SFO investigation showed that between January 2001 and June 2007, the health service paid Alpine approximately $52,000 per year. After Gorham began his role in 2007, the ADHB’s payments to Alpine increased to approximately $400,000 per year until 2016.
Sentencing Date
Gorham is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 2026.