Nats' chief helps in fraud probe

Peter Goodfellow. Photo / Simon Baker

Wealthy new National Party president Peter Goodfellow is helping the Serious Fraud Office after losing $100,000 when a friend was caught in an alleged scam involving an Auckland restaurateur.

Mr Goodfellow told the Weekend Herald he loaned the friend money that was subsequently lost in dealings with Loizos Michaels.

Mr Goodfellow said although he had met Mr Michaels - known in Auckland circles as "Michael" - he never dealt directly with him.

Mr Michaels is of Cypriot descent and from Melbourne. He owns Plato's Greek Taverna on Ponsonby Rd.

Mr Goodfellow said he gave the money to his friend, former Christchurch Casino manager Stephen Lyttelton, whose involvement with Mr Michaels "went sour".

"I lent Stephen some money," said Mr Goodfellow. "He's lost all his money. He's fallen on really hard times. He's going to pay that back to me."

Mr Goodfellow said he had been interviewed by Serious Fraud Office investigators and had offered what help he could.

He would not comment further.

Mr Goodfellow is a director of several companies and has extensive business interests. The Goodfellow family are ranked 16th on the NBR rich list with an estimated $550 million.

The nature of the dealings the SFO is investigating is unknown, but they happened about the time in 2007 that Mr Lyttelton left the casino, claiming that loan sharking, prize draw fixing, gaming machine skimming, money laundering and illegal gambling were all happening there.

At the time, he told the Weekend Herald he was trying to find new business ventures and preparing to travel to Hong Kong.

Mr Michaels declined to comment yesterday, but said he knew of the SFO investigation and absolutely denied any wrongdoing.

"Peter Goodfellow's a very good guy," he said. "He should be National Party president."

It is understood Mr Lyttelton is the complainant, but he declined to comment yesterday, citing legal reasons.

SFO director Grant Liddell declined to comment on the investigation.