An experienced fraudster not only preyed on desperate families looking for rental properties but allegedly left her own children in debt after taking out loans in their names.

Gina Odelle Potae’s son Tre Araia has also claimed she once told police he was dead to avoid a bail breach.

”She’s got no remorse at all,” Araia told NZME after reading about his mother in a recent article.

Potae, 51, was jailed last week for 23 months after she posed as a landlord and stole $7200 from victims she signed up to rental properties she did not own.

In December 2022, two families desperate for housing were approached by Potae and offered a rental in Parihaka, Whangārei.

Potae had them sign fake tenancy agreements, requested criminal histories, and directed them to pay $3600 each in bond. She then ceased contact with them once she received all the money.

When one set of victims, Danielle Gaudin and Devlin Maras, became suspicious, they went to the address.

The real owners answered and informed the couple that they were the fifth family to turn up under similar circumstances.

Potae previously served time for similar offending in Tauranga and in 2009 she stole $200,000 from a financial institution.

Judge Taryn Bayley said at Potae’s recent sentencing that she was a recidivist fraudster undeterred by her offending.

Whangārei couple Danielle and Devlin Maras, pictured with their 5-week-old baby, were victims of a rental property scam at the hands of Gina Potae. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The comment is something her son agrees with.

”I wasn’t too surprised, because this isn’t the first time or the second or the third. She’s just consistent with her lies, she’s real confident with what she’s trying to do,” Araia said.

He said that was why he, with the support of his brother, had decided to speak out.

“It’s gone past getting any justice for us, it’s more about for everyone else. We’re not like this and we hate being recognised for this, that’s our mum at the end of the day but it’s just sick.”

He alleged her children have also been victims of her schemes including by applying for loans in their names.

Araia has worked since he was 16 and was shocked to find out he had a $3000 student loan he knew nothing about when his pay was docked and his tax code changed.

“That’s how I found it, it’s crazy because I didn’t study at all. Coming to terms with how the hell am I paying back a student loan when I haven’t even studied.”

When he made inquiries, Araia claimed he was told by IRD the application form had his mother’s name and signature on it.

But the deceit did not stop there.

‘I broke down’

Araia claimed that through the years he found personal loans had been taken out in his name, which he believed was at the hands of his mother.

He also discovered his mother had shown people through a house he rented with his brother. She was convicted for that offending.

“She was bringing multiple people through the house advertising as her house and taking the bond money. We had no idea this was happening because we worked night shift, so during the day we’re sleeping.”

Tre Araia claims he was left thousands of dollars in debt because of his mother.

Araia claimed his mother also once told police he was dead to avoid a bail breach.

“She told them the reason she couldn’t attend court is because I died. At the time it was very upsetting. I broke down. That’s really how far she goes, she has to dig deep into her own kids.”

Araia is now 24 years old with a family and said the debt has had a huge impact on his future, leaving him with bad credit and unable to apply for things his family needs, like a bigger car.

“It’s a humungous hit, especially knowing now how expensive it is to raise a child,” he said.

Discussions were had in open court at Potae’s recent sentencing about her relationship with her children, which her lawyer Connor Taylor confirmed she was estranged from due to her offending.

Police confirmed with NZME that an investigation was conducted into Potae relating to the allegations Araia made about the personal loans. However, this was closed in 2019 as police were unable to determine whether fraudulent activity had occurred.

NZME contacted IRD, which advised it manages all student loan debt up until the year 2000 and encourages anyone who suspects fraud has occurred to contact them so it can investigate.

“If IR confirms the student loan is fraudulent, the original balance can go back to zero,” an IRD spokesperson said.

“For a loan that was drawn down during the 2001 academic year onward, the process is managed by Studylink. Studylink determines whether those loans are fraudulent and is responsible for recovering the fraudulent loan amounts. If it’s proven that the loan is fraudulent, it is what’s called ‘pulled back’ from IR by Studylink.

“The end result, for both scenarios, is like the loan never existed.”

Araia’s student loan has been closed since IRD spoke with NZME.

Potae’s lawyer Connor Taylor declined to comment on the alleged offending against Araia.

Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.