New Zealand’s Commerce Commission is appealing to the public to help identify victims of an alleged South Auckland loan shark, saying affected borrowers may be eligible for financial compensation if funds are available.
The call‑out follows charges laid last year against Ilaisaane Malupo and her company, which traded as Nane Easy Loan Finance Services NZ (Nane Loans).
As Kaniva News reported at the time, the Commission alleges Ms Malupo operated as an unregistered lender and targeted vulnerable members of the Tongan community with high‑cost, illegal loans.
According to the Commission, Ms Malupo issued personal loans from March 2024 with weekly interest rates of 15 percent, which doubled after 28 days if borrowers failed to repay their debts.
Additional late fees of $10 per day were also imposed, placing many borrowers under severe financial strain.
‘We need to hear from affected borrowers’
Commerce Commission Deputy Chair Anne Callinan said the Commission is now working to identify victims who may be entitled to compensation.
“Ms Malupo failed to keep accurate records, and destroyed others, meaning we do not have the details of all affected borrowers,” Ms Callinan said.
“This is why the Commission is taking the step of appealing to the public to get in contact with us if they, or someone they know, borrowed from Ms Malupo.
“While Ms Malupo’s financial position is currently unclear, we do need to hear from affected borrowers as they could be eligible for financial compensation if there are funds available for this purpose.”
Unregistered lending and illegal loan terms
One of the charges laid against Ms Malupo relates to the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act (FSPA), which requires all consumer lenders to be registered.
The Commission said Ms Malupo continued to provide loans despite receiving repeated guidance to cease lending or become compliant.
As well as operating unlawfully, her lending practices included:
- Interest rates of up to 15% per week
- Interest doubling after 28 days
- Late fees of up to $10 per day
“These terms placed significant pressure on borrowers who were already facing financial hardship,” Ms Callinan said.
“Some would sell sentimental possessions or miss rent payments to keep up with repayments.”
There were also reports that Ms Malupo threatened to publicly expose borrowers who were behind on payments, using Facebook or Tongan media platforms.
How to contact the Commerce Commission
The Commission is urging anyone who borrowed from Nane Loans or Ms Malupo to contact them before 5pm on 3 April 2026.
Borrowers can get in touch by:
- Email: contact@comcom.govt.nz (use subject line “Nane Loans borrower”)
- Phone: 0800 943 600
The Commission says coming forward is essential to ensure affected borrowers are considered for compensation, should funds be available.
