KEY POINTS:
The woman who accused Clint Rickards of rape says he should not be allowed anywhere near vulnerable young people.
Yesterday, it emerged that West Auckland's Waipareira Trust, headed by John Tamihere, is in negotiations with the former policeman for a consultancy position developing the trust's youth early identification risk and prevention programme.
Mr Rickards was accused of raping Louise Nicholas when she was a teenager in the 1980s. He was acquitted in March 2006 and this month was cleared by the New Zealand Law Society to practice as a lawyer after gaining his degree.
Ms Nicholas said she did not begrudge Mr Rickards a new career. However working in any sector which dealt with young people or the law - she was against Mr Rickards' application to the Law Society - was inappropriate.
"My concerns are that he may end up advising our troubled young men and women whose difficulties could actually stem directly from their lives being blighted by sexual abuse."
What made the job offer harder to accept was Mr Rickards' backing of convicted rapists and ex-police officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
"Everybody is entitled to a fresh start after all has gone on. But I think the actions that Clint Rickards has taken over the last few years do not hold him in good stead to be a role model. It's very ill-fitting.
"I could give him the benefit of the doubt that he has truly turned his life around but when he's saying that his mates shouldn't be in jail, and yet they're convicted rapists, it doesn't set a very good example for our young people who are trying to move on to a better life."
While rape prevention and youth workers, and Women's Refuge spokespeople criticised the job offer, Mr Tamihere said he wasn't worried.
He'd been through a similar outcry when he hired an ex-MP who was convicted of fraud.
"But who cares? They said that about Donna Awatere-Huata, who is making huge changes out west in literacy and numeracy. I would have left her to rot in Hastings if I was worried about their public opinion.
"It's not the Women's Refuge's business. Here's the real point - we're in the business of lifting people up rather than kicking them down and walking over them."
Mr Tamihere said because the job was an advisory one, it was unlikely Mr Rickards would be on the front line working with youth - but that could not be ruled out.
