House of Shem brothers cite dad's death as catalyst for $200k benefit fraud

Kiwi musicians Duane and Isaiah Perkins say the death of their father was the catalyst for them committing nearly $200,000 in benefit fraud.

The Perkins brothers formed House of Shem in Whanganui in 2005 and have released three albums of roots and reggae-inspired music together. They have also performed alongside UB40 and Ziggy Marley.

From there, their music has struck a chord with not only New Zealanders but Australians and beyond.

But it was after the 2018 death of their father Carl Perkins, who led the band to stardom, that their financials started going awry and they both committed benefit fraud.

According to court documents, Duane Omeka Perkins, known as Te-Omeka Perkins, claimed $116,847.52 over two years.

Isaiah Te Rangi-A-Nui Perkins received $79,617.04 in seven different allowances and payments over four years.

Isaiah Perkins’ counsel, Kaleb Whyte, explained to Judge Marshall in the Hamilton District Court today that their “father was largely in control of the band where the finances ultimately came from”.

The brothers, who were supported in court by their mother, declined to say anything on the record when approached by media outside court.

Court documents state Duane, 42, first applied for, and was granted a supported living payment in May 2017.

It was cancelled a year later after he failed to provide a medical certificate.

He applied for, and was declined, a benefit in August 2018, before reapplying in May 2019.

That benefit was granted, and temporary additional support and hardship assistance grants were paid 10 times from February 2020 to May 2022.

On January 10, 2023, his sole parent support was cancelled when he left New Zealand.

As a result, he received overpayments from September 27, 2017 to May 8, 2018, and again between May 6, 2019, and May 9, 2023, for six different supports, supplements, grants and payments totalling $116,847.52.

After being spoken to, Duane began making voluntary repayments of $20 per week.

As for Isaiah, 38, he was granted a student allowance from March 2018, but it was cancelled in July when his course finished.

However, before that, he applied for and was granted another allowance, which was cancelled when his course finished in December.

Throughout 2019, he also applied for and was paid benefits and Jobseeker support.

In January 2020, his benefit was cancelled when he failed to complete a 52-week reapplication.

He filled the application out the following month and was granted support.

On October 21, 2023, his benefit was cancelled when he left New Zealand.

The Ministry of Social Development investigated and found during three periods between 2018 and October 2023, Isaiah had received overpayments from allowances, hardship grants, or payments totalling $79,617.04.

Isaiah (left) and Te Omeka Perkins pictured at their father's tangi at Raetihi's Te Puke Marae. Photo / Bevan Conley

The brothers had earlier accepted sentence indications, Duane of two years and three months, and Isaiah of 20 months’ prison, along with 20% discounts for their guilty pleas.

Duane’s counsel, Alvina Tu’inukuafe, said her client had no previous convictions but provided several letters to the court outlining the contribution he’d made to the community.

He was assessed at a low risk of reoffending and harm to others and had been making voluntary repayments since 2023.

‘Left to pick up the pieces’

Regarding Isaiah, Whyte said after Carl Perkins’ death, the brothers were “left to pick up the pieces”.

“It’s not a situation where it was a deliberate and calculated fraud to amass significant assets.

“It’s a situation where they had been landed with the remnants of the company, expected to manage it and have had additional income that’s come in that they have had no previous experience with.”

Duane Omeka Perkins (left), also known as Te-Omeka Perkins, and his brother Isaiah Te Rangi-A-Nui Perkins outside the Hamilton District Court after sentencing on benefit fraud charges. Photo / Belinda Feek

“It’s dysfunctional disorganisation. Let’s leave it at that,” the judge replied.

“They should have sought professional help much sooner, which they now have,” Whyte said in response.

Ministry prosecutor Ashley Limu-Mahoney told Judge Marshall she was seeking the full reparation amount, but accepted that anything not ordered by the court would be sought through civil proceedings.

Judge Marshall accepted Duane was motivated to change and he was almost always a “contributor to the community, not a detractor”.

On 12 charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage and two charges of obtaining by deception, Duane was sentenced to six months’ home detention and 100 hours’ community work.

He was also ordered to pay reparation of $7200 at $20 a week.

Isaiah had been paying $5 a week voluntarily, but agreed to increase that to $20 a week.

Judge Marshall said he accepted the offending occurred because of their father’s death, and that both brothers were remorseful.

Isaiah was convicted and sentenced to seven months’ home detention, along with 100 hours’ community work and $7200 reparation.

His current sentence of intensive supervision was cancelled.

“Like your brother, you have got huge potential to contribute enormously to the community and you have done that in the past.

“Once you’ve completed this sentence, throw yourself back into all those productive things that you are used to doing,” Judge Marshall told him.

Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 11 years and has been a journalist for 22.