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‘My healing can start’: Complainants react to review of historical sexual abuse by former MP

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

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,

Police have completed a review into historical sexual abuse complaints involving a former politician.

Stuff earlier revealed Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm was at the centre of at least three police investigations into alleged child sexual abuse before he died last year, aged 83, following what his family described as a short illness.

Following Stuff’s reporting, police conducted a review of historical sexual abuse complaints involving Malcolm.

A man who was allegedly sexually abused by a former politician more than 30 years ago says the healing process can now begin.

Stuff earlier revealed Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm was at the centre of at least three police investigations into alleged child sexual abuse before he died in September, aged 83, following what his family described as a short illness.

Police then confirmed they were aware of four complaints about Malcolm over the years. There were two active investigations into Malcolm at the time of his death.

Following Stuff’s reporting, police conducted a review of historical sexual abuse complaints involving Malcolm.

On Tuesday, Detective Superintendent Darryl Sweeney told Stuff police had undertaken a full review of the allegations against Malcolm, which spanned across three decades.

“At the time of Mr Malcolm’s death, police were reviewing the complaints previously made against Mr Malcolm together as a potential pattern of alleged sexual conduct.

Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm pictured in 1984.
Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm pictured in 1984.

“This was with a view to pursuing prosecution if the Solicitor-General’s Prosecution Guidelines were met. However, Mr Malcolm’s death is a bar to any prosecution against him, and no further action will be taken on this matter.”

Police had contacted the complainants to update them on the investigation and explain the circumstances around the decision to take no further action, Sweeney said.

‘I feel like I’ve been listened to’

The first investigation into Malcolm was launched in 1992, and looked into allegations a teenager, who we will call Brett, was violated by Malcolm in the three years prior.

On Tuesday, Brett told Stuff he’d had a call from Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry informing him the review had been finalised.

“I'm glad that they did a review, I'm glad that I went to the Royal Commission and that this time it was taken seriously. I’d encourage people to come forward, anybody that feels as though they've been abused in anyway. It doesn't have to be pushed aside and forgotten any more.'

Brett felt police had taken him “seriously”.

“My healing can now start. It's been a big journey, it's exposed a lot of wounds, this whole thing. I'm glad that it became public the way it did.

'I feel I've been listened to. I've got a long way to go, it has opened a lot of wounds.'

Grooming wasn’t considered a crime in the 90s, detective told complainant

A friend of Brett’s, who we are calling Daniel, also laid a complaint in 1992 regarding an incident on a boat with Malcolm when he was 15 years old.

Daniel said Verry told him police had identified a 'pattern of concerning behaviour' by Malcolm over three decades and were undertaking a 'serious criminal' investigation into his conduct at the time of his death.

The detective told him the legal system had changed a lot since the 90s, he said. Back then, things like grooming weren't even considered a crime, and police databases weren't set up to link cases like they are now.

Daniel was thankful for the work police had done reviewing the allegations.

“I'm pleased that the police are now better resourced to stop things like this in the future.”

Three cases, no charges

In 2012, a 10-year-old boy, who Stuff is calling Nathan, told his mother he’d been sexually assaulted by the ex-Cabinet minister about a year earlier, and police were notified.

Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm.
Anthony “Aussie” Malcolm.

In all three cases no charges were filed. Police earlier said that in relation to Daniel and Brett’s complaints, police at the time determined that the Solicitor General’s Guidelines for prosecution had not been met.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (then the PCA) examined the 1992 police investigation into Brett’s complaint, and was satisfied with the outcome, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster earlier said.

In July, Brett and Nathan were contacted separately by a senior Northland detective who said he was leading an investigation into the allegations they’d raised during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

Stuff earlier revealed that the ex-Cabinet minister looked after various children at his Northland home after his tenure as a politician ended in 1984.

A person does not need to be a registered Oranga Tamariki carer to foster a child.

In some cases, Malcolm was granted parenting orders by the Family Court under the Care of Children Act and given authority to act as a sole caregiver. In others, parents themselves entrusted him with looking after their children. Neither scenario meant he was an official Oranga Tamariki caregiver.

A member of Malcolm’s family earlier declined to comment when contacted by Stuff.

Minister in Muldoon Government and America’s Cup campaign director

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.

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