Home printer used to make $50 notes

A Feilding woman has admitted using a home scanner and printer to make fake $50 notes she spent throughout Manawatu and Horowhenua.

When police searched 32-year-old Tamara Karepa's home on October 14, they found a multifunction colour printer and scanner that she admitted had been used to make counterfeit notes.

She pleaded guilty to the last of eight charges of forging a document, eight charges of using a forged document and obtaining by deception in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday.

Between May 1 and October 12 this year, Karepa used the printing equipment to scan an original $50 note, and sticky tape and white corrective fluid to create the transparent windows, the police summary of facts shows.

She then used the notes to purchase food from restaurants and clothing from second-hand stores in Woodville, Foxton and Palmerston North.

In August, Karepa clocked up a $650 bill with Feilding Motel that she failed to pay, as well as an $18 phone bill.

She was remanded in custody until sentencing on November 24, when police have ordered destruction of the printer-scanner.

Her partner Rhys Billett, 34, has also been charged in relation to the fake notes and was due to appear in the Feilding District Court today.