Foreman in family row over finances

Diane Foreman at Port Douglas yesterday. Picture / Brian Cassey

Diane Foreman, the woman who has been linked to Don Brash's marriage problems, has been locked in a feud over the family fortune with the children from her husband Bill's first marriage.

The Weekend Herald has learned of a legal battle involving the four children from the 1950s marriage who were potential beneficiaries of family trusts and wanted disclosure of trust documents and information.

The children, all now in their 40s and 50s, are understood to be estranged from Mr Foreman, who built his fortune through Trigon Plastics, sold in 1996 for $130 million.

They brought the action after wanting to see documents such as financial statements, distributions and the assets and liabilities of the trusts.

Mr and Mrs Foreman - his third wife - were among the trustees.

Trust lawyers refer to it as a landmark case, understood to be the largest of its kind in New Zealand.

It is not known what stage the case has reached, but in 2004 the High Court ruled that some, but not all, of the information should be made available to the children.

Last year the trustees sought another ruling, believing that disclosure of the documents might provoke further conflict in the family.

The court held that family acrimony was not a reason for denying beneficiaries information.

Mr Foreman went on to have one daughter and adopt another in his second marriage to Mary-Pat, who died of cancer.

He married Diane, the present Mrs Foreman, in 1988, adopting a son and having another daughter, while Mrs Foreman already had two daughters.

It is understood the legal action centred on three trusts, relating to each of his wives.

It is understood that the first trust was resettled in the third, of which Diane Foreman was a trustee. The second trust was wound up.

The Weekend Herald yesterday spoke briefly to Mrs Foreman in Port Douglas, Queensland.

Asked about the trusts, Mrs Foreman said: "I've got nothing to say."

Asked about the week's revelations regarding her and Dr Brash, she said: "I've just got nothing to say."