A series of cleverly forged compliance certificates were discovered only by accident, traced back to a fraudulent 2017 sign-off for installation of a diesel storage tank at a South Auckland police station. Police estimate work across five different affected police stations will cost $300,000 to remediate; Philip John Mansfield was convicted of fraud, sentenced to five months community detention requiring him to remain at home 7.00 pm to 7.00 am seven days a week.
The District Court was told Mansfield had a good reputation within the industry prior to his offending, primarily for construction and installation of storage tanks at petrol stations through his Palmerston North based company, Mansfield Installations Ltd.
He later concentrated on commercial installation of smaller diesel tanks.
Evidence was given of his taking shortcuts in certification sign-offs when disputing application of new rules imposed on the industry.
When one certifier refused to sign off, Mansfield created a forged certificate.
Over the next six years he forged eight compliance certificates with false signatures fraudulently certifying work as compliant.
The fraud was discovered only after his work on a job for the National Library in Whanganui was later queried and the supposed certifier disavowed all knowledge. Mansfield had fraudulently altered a compliance certificate for another job, this other certificate itself being a forgery.
With Mansfield now aged 65, Judge Warburton ruled community detention was the most appropriate sentence.
Worksafe New Zealand v. Mansfield – District Court (2.04.26)
26.128