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Allegations
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Yesterday's guilty rape
verdict against Mt Maunganui businessman Peter McNamara has thrown
uncertainty over a $3 million funding deal for the Tauranga aquatic centre. McNamara, 46, was
convicted for his part in the pack rape of a woman at the Mount 16 years ago.
The High Court jury in
Wellington also convicted three others for the January 1989 rape, including
Tauranga firefighter Warren Hales. Name suppression has been continued for
the other two men. McNamara struck a deal
to help fund construction of the Tauranga City Council's aquatic centre
through one of his companies, H2O Management. The company agreed to
contribute $3 million towards the $16.3 million project in exchange for
exclusive rights to operate the aquatic centre, the Mount Hot Pools and Domain
Motor Camp, and the council's other three pools at Greerton, Otumoetai and
Memorial Park. The council expected to
receive the $3 million about the time the pool opened in mid-September. And
although no money had been given so far, council finance manager Malcolm Gibb
said H2O was not late. However, he said the
council had begun assessing the implications of the verdict and how it might
affect H2O's ability to provide management services once McNamara was
sentenced on August 5. Mr Gibb said it was a
small company with two directors -- McNamara and his partner -- and the
verdict could have fairly significant implications for the council. H2O Management
currently operates the motor camp and four pools, and its $3 million
contribution to the aquatic centre was pivotal in the community/ratepayers
funding deal which convinced the council to press ahead with the project. Mr Gibb said the worst
case scenario would be if H2O were unable to continue in business, meaning it
could not fund its $3 million contribution. "We need to see
the sentencing, or whether the verdict is appealed," he said. There were clauses to
protect the council's position. There had been other
unsuccessful tenderers when the council called for expressions of interest
for the joint funding and management package. "We are not
sitting on our hands -- we are looking at our options," he said. H20 also manages
Napier's Ocean Spa pool and Te Awamutu's swimming and events centre. The rape charge and
resulting verdict have put a huge dent in the previous golden run of one of
the Bay's biggest business and sporting personalities. McNamara told the Bay
of Plenty Times in a feature published in 1998 that he was never more at home
than when paddling his wave ski or scaling the top of Mauao (the Mount). At 21, McNamara became
the youngest professional swimming coach in the country and took over the
contract to run Hamilton's Municipal Baths, later moving on to Te Rapa
Waterworld. Eventually the lure of
the Mount proved too much, and he started a trucking business which folded
when a major client pulled out. He then used his
entrepreneurial flair to launch Sensorcorp, which promoted events and
concerts. Another money spinner
for Sensorcorp was the Mount beach grooming contract which saw him invest
$250,000 in a state of the art groomer from Germany. McNamara is also a
director of Import Consultium Ltd and Eco Bleach Ltd. Meanwhile, a friend of
Warren Hales said those who knew him were devastated by the verdict. The man, who wanted to
remain anonymous, said Hales "was not that type of guy". "He is very
likeable -- this has been hanging over his head for a very long time. I feel
sorry for him." Tauranga's chief fire
officer Ron Devlin confirmed Hales was stationed in Tauranga and was employed
by the fire service but had recently taken leave. Mr Devlin was unable to
say if Hales had spent all 15 years of his firefighting career in the Western
Bay and would not comment any further on the trial verdict. The New Zealand Fire
Service's director of human resources, Vince Arbuckle said procedures existed
when firefighters were charged with serious crimes. "We take a case by
case approach and the impact it has on firefighters to do their job," Mr
Arbuckle said. "Our primary
consideration is 'can members of the public continue to have trust in the
organisation with the firefighter as a member?'" The risk to other fire
service members was also considered, he said. The fire service had in
the past suspended firefighters during a trial and if sent to jail, their
employment was terminated, Mr Arbuckle said. Hales is listed as a
director and a shareholder of a company called Loch-Wood Limited, which was
registered in August 1998. He is originally from
Auckland and has no children |
