Police have charged a man with three counts of deception over an alleged passport scam targeting Pacific Island overstayers.
False residence papers issued in the name of a Maori hapu have been sold for $500 each, declaring people under the tribe's protection.
Police in South Auckland questioned Maori activist Gerrard Otimi on Tuesday after several search warrants were executed on his properties.
Detective Inspector John Timms says 5000 blank hapu membership certificates have been recovered from the property, along with $40,000 in cash and a number of hapu membership certificates have been issued.
Mr Timms is appealing for anyone who had business transactions with Mr Otimi to come forward.
However, he says many of those people have immigration problems and police cannot guarantee amnesty.
Mr Otimi will appear in Manukau District Court on Wednesday and has been released on police bail. Police say he is likely to face more charges.
The Immigration Advisers Authority is investigating the case.
