Tens of thousands of dollars remain unclaimed from several organisations, including former District Health Boards (DHBs), according to records from Inland Revenue.
Money is classified as unclaimed when banks, insurance companies, or other institutions hold funds but are unable to locate or contact the rightful owner for five years.
Consumer NZ reports that as of June 30, 2025, Inland Revenue (IR) was holding about $616 million in unclaimed money.
According to 1News, public records show some of the largest individual sums connected to health-related organisations include $88,432 listed for the Middlemore Hospital Gastro Research Fund, $50,829 for South Auckland Health, and $28,000 for the Auckland District Health Board.
New Zealand’s DHBs were disestablished in 2022 and replaced by a centralised health system managed by Health New Zealand.
When asked about the unclaimed funds and what would happen if they were recovered, Health New Zealand said it would work with Inland Revenue to reclaim any money owed.
Chief finance officer Bevan McKenzie said the funds would be "invested into the delivery of health services for all New Zealanders," as quoted by 1News.
However, McKenzie did not outline which specific services or areas of healthcare would benefit from the money.
Although former DHBs were associated with some of the largest sums, a wide range of other organisations were also listed as having unclaimed funds. These included sports clubs, surf life saving groups, fire brigades, churches and political parties, each with thousands of dollars yet to be claimed, as reported by 1News.
Even Inland Revenue itself appeared on the list, with $1329.35 recorded as unclaimed in its name.
Inland Revenue explains process
An Inland Revenue spokesperson said the Unclaimed Monies Act 1971 requires financial institutions to attempt to locate the rightful owner before transferring funds to the department.
"Once the money reaches us, it is listed on the searchable database, available through the IR Website and through MyIR," 1News has quoted.
According to the spokesperson, the money can remain in the unclaimed database for up to 25 years.
"If nobody claims it after that time the money reverts to the Crown and is no longer claimable," as quoted by 1News.
Regarding the funds listed under Inland Revenue itself, the spokesperson acknowledged the issue.
"That was an administrative error and has now been removed from the searchable database."
How to check if you have unclaimed money
People who believe they may be entitled to unclaimed funds can check in two ways.
The first option is through the MyIR portal by logging in, selecting “I want to…”, then navigating to “Registration, application and enrolment” and choosing “Apply for unclaimed money,” 1News has quoted.
Alternatively, individuals can search the Inland Revenue website. This option is useful for those searching on behalf of someone else, using a previous name, looking for funds belonging to an organisation, trust, or estate, or for those without a MyIR account, as reported by 1News.
To claim money, applicants must provide information confirming their identity and connection to the funds. This could include previous contact details, old statements or letters from the organisation holding the funds, or documents such as a will.
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