'A predator’: Ex-National MP investigated at least three times over alleged child sex abuse
Monday, 16 September 2024
Former National Party minister and America’s Cup campaign director Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm was at the centre of at least three police investigations into alleged child sexual abuse before his recent death.
The first was launched in 1992, and looked into allegations a teenager was violated by Malcolm in the three years prior.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was ‘completely unaware’ of the ‘very serious allegations’ about Malcolm before Stuff reported details of them on Saturday.
WARNING: This story contains explicit details and will be upsetting to some readers.
Former National Party minister and America’s Cup campaign director Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm was at the centre of at least three police investigations into alleged child sexual abuse before his death, Stuff can reveal.
The first was launched in 1992, and looked into allegations a teenager was violated by Malcolm in the three years prior. It did not result in any charges - a decision the complainant believes was influenced by the gold Maserati-driving former politician’s power and influence.
Then, in 2012, a 10-year-old boy told his mother he’d been sexually assaulted by the ex-Cabinet minister about a year earlier, and police were notified. Again, no charges were laid.
Years later, both complainants made statements to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care about the abuse they said Malcolm had inflicted on them.
In July, the pair were contacted separately by a senior Northland detective who said he was leading an investigation into the allegations they’d raised during the Commission of Inquiry.
“The first part of my investigation is to collate all the documents available to me from the Commission as well as previous police investigations into one new investigation,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry wrote in emails to both of them.
That investigation was ongoing when Malcolm died recently in Whangārei following what his family described as a short illness.
On Saturday, Stuff revealed the 83-year-old was the subject of multiple complaints of historical child sexual abuse prior to his death.
Since then, the 1992 and 2012 complainants have contacted us, sharing the harrowing statements they made to the Commission, and the impact Malcolm’s alleged offending has had on their lives.
Do you know more? Email investigations@stuff.co.nz
“He was a predator,” one said.
“I wanted action … he needed to be held accountable for his behaviour and the lives that he's destroyed.”
On Sunday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he was “completely unaware” of the “very serious allegations” Malcolm faced before Stuff reported them.
“I am aware that they're being investigated through the appropriate channels which is good news. But I'd also just say for anyone who has any further information to talk to the police,” he said.
‘I tried to avoid Aussie but he is a very powerful, possessive man’
The 1992 complainant, who we’ll call Brett, said he was 15 when he met Malcolm. By then he was no longer a politician, but his wife was an Auckland City Councillor.
“They held a prestigious position in our local community and were well trusted,” Brett’s statement to the Royal Commission of Inquiry says.
He said his family came to know the Malcolms well, and they visited their home to use his pool and socialise.
“My parents saw them as grandparent type figures,” his statement says.
The teen stayed at Malcolm’s prawn farm in Kaipara in 1989.
It was there, according to his statement to the Commission, that he woke one morning to find Malcolm sitting at the end of his bed.
The former politician offered him a cigarette, which he accepted. Malcolm then asked if he wanted a massage.
“I was reluctant at first, but did not stop him.”
In his statement to the Commission, Brett alleged Malcolm rubbed his back and after a while began rubbing his penis over the top of his underpants.
Malcolm then put his hands down his underpants and sexually assaulted him.
During the incident, according to Brett’s statement, Malcolm said: “Don’t worry this is natural.”
“Aussie didn’t say not to tell anyone about the abuse, but he made me feel like I didn’t need to tell anyone because it didn’t feel sinful. Aussie made the abuse seem like it was a natural thing to do. I wanted to forget about it,” his statement says.
A couple of weeks later, Brett said Malcolm asked if he wanted to come to his prawn farm again.
Despite his reservations, he went.
During his stay, Brett alleged Malcolm followed him into his bedroom, and gave him a cigarette. They talked for a while before Malcolm put his hand down his underpants and sexually assaulted him.
“While he was doing this, Aussie asked if I wanted to play with his penis but I said I didn’t want to,” his statement to the Commission says.
The next day Malcolm drove him home.
“I felt dirty and not at all comfortable with what happened.”
The following year, when Brett was 16, Malcolm took him out for lunch a number of times, picking him up in his Maserati or 4WD. Then he’d take him to his house and sexually assault him. This happened four or five times, he said in his statement to the Commission.
“I tried to avoid Aussie but he is a very powerful, possessive man,” his statement says.
“I didn’t want to have anything to do with him because of what he did to me but in some ways I liked being spoiled by him; he dragged you in.”
Brett said Malcolm knew he was vulnerable and would “try and lure me in” by portraying that he cared for him.
“He did this by giving me attention, and gifting me … cigarettes and money.”
In 1992, according to Brett’s statement to the Commission, his parents went to police concerned Malcolm had had an inappropriate relationship with his younger brother. While that matter was being investigated, Brett disclosed to his mother that he’d been abused by Malcolm, and he made a statement to police.
Brett told Stuff he believed Malcolm was not charged because of his status as a former politician and the influence he wielded.
'He still held a lot of power in the community..
“They [police] just basically didn’t believe [me].”
The last 35 years waiting for justice had been “horrible,” Brett said.
“We knew that we had a case, we were just pushing the powers. I've been carrying this around for a long time. It's affected every part of my life.'
In his statement to the Commission, Brett said the abuse Malcolm had inflicted on him drove a “massive wedge” between him and his family and “ended with the destruction of our family unit”.
It had affected his mental health, he’d made numerous suicide attempts, and his relationship with his parents remained strained.
“I still don’t feel like I have a family,” he said in his statement to the Commission.
Brett told Stuff his relationship with his family had since improved and was now strong.
He contacted the Royal Commission of Inquiry in Abuse in Care and police after he saw Malcolm with a child in Auckland.
When he learned on Thursday that Malcolm had died, his first reaction was that he’d “got away with it”.
“I was getting ready for this battle, I'd been putting my armour on for many, many years to get ready to fight this. I wanted to see the guy in court and held to account.
'Do I feel angry? I feel that the truth needs to come out of what he's done and the lives he's destroyed.
'My hope now is that other victims come forward … and that he can be exposed for what he is.'
‘It made me feel worthless’
The other complainant, who we will call Nathan, said he knew Malcolm through a member of his family, and stayed at his home in Tutukaka, Northland in 2010 when he was 9 years old.
On his first night there he slept in Malcolm’s bed because he was afraid of the dark.
“I was lying on my side in bed and Aussie was behind me. Aussie used his hand to rub my leg, bottom and penis under my boxers. This happened about four times during this stay.”
Nathan said he was sexually assaulted by Malcolm again when he stayed at his home on another occasion.
“Aussie rubbed and touched my leg, bottom and penis underneath my clothing. This happened about three times during this stay,” his statement to the Commission says.
In early-2012, Nathan told his mother about what had happened, using a soft toy to show how Malcolm had abused him, and police were notified.
“Despite me being able to clearly tell the police what had happened to me and how many times it happened, the police decided not to prosecute Aussie and the matter was filed.”
Nathan told Stuff the email from police in July gave him hope Malcolm would be held accountable.
“I thought that I may actually be able to see Aussie behind bars and I would be able to move on, however since he died before my case was heard I feel angry. I hope that the justice system will take these complaints more seriously when they are filed.
“The most frustrating thing about Aussie dying is that so many portray him to be a nice jolly person but it's time they learn the truth of the monster he really was.”
Nathan told Stuff the alleged abuse had scarred him for life.
He had a phobia of white silky bed sheets as they were always on Malcolm’s bed when he was abused, he said.
“Aussie doing these things made me lose all hope in myself, it made me feel worthless. Growing up I had no confidence and felt ashamed. It left me with a mental illness that I'm still trying to heal from.
“I miss the person I was before these events. What Aussie did to me changed me mentally and physically, I struggle with intimacy to this day. I overheat and my heart starts racing and all I want to do is escape.”
A member of Malcolm’s family declined to comment when contacted by Stuff on Friday.
Malcolm served in the Muldoon Government, working as a Cabinet minister with varied portfolios - including railways, health and immigration.
He had come to Parliament after training as a social worker and then ran an advertising company. Post-Parliament, he turned his passion for yachting into a fourth career, managing New Zealand’s first challenge for the America’s Cup.
Born in Australia, Malcolm moved to New Zealand as a child and attended Wellington College where his classmates nicknamed him 'Aussie“. The name stuck with him his whole life.
In 1975, Malcolm defeated Labour’s Mike Moore to win the Eden electorate for the National Party, a seat he would hold for three terms.
His political career came to an end in 1984, when Labour reclaimed the seat in a landslide election.
His work as a director of New Zealand’s first America’s Cup campaign saw the team secure the largest sporting sponsorship of the time, bringing in millions to fund the team.
Malcolm remained involved in yachting, and was a member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for more than 40 years.
He also went on to pursue a diverse range of business ventures.
He founded the immigration consultancy Malcolm Pacific, and co-founded the country’s biggest diving company Dive! Tutukaka, in Northland. Malcolm ceased being a director and shareholder of the business more than a decade ago.
Sexual violence: where to get help
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.
Victim Support 0800 842 846.
Safetalk text 4334, phone 0800 044 334 webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz.
The Harbour Online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse.
Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843
Male Survivors Aotearoa Helplines across NZ, click to find out more (males only).
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation, click the Shielded icon at the bottom of this website to contact Women's Refuge in a safe and anonymous way without it being traced in your browser history. If you're in our app, visit the mobile website here to access Shielded.